The New England Primer’s influence was felt for nearly three hundred years in America ... along with the Authorized Version of 1611 (King James Bible).
The New England Primer was a textbook used by students in New England and in other English settlements in North America. It was first printed in Boston in 1690 by Benjamin Harris who had published a similar volume in London. It was used by students into the 19th century. Over five million copies of the book were sold.
In the 1700's schools in the colonies were strongly influenced by religion. It was the intent of the colonists that all children should learn to read and in 1642 Puritan Massachusetts passed a law stating this. They believed that an inability to read was Satan's attempt to keep people from the Scriptures.
The New England Primer followed a tradition of combining the study of the alphabet with Bible reading. It introduced each alphabet letter in a religious phrase and then illustrated the phrase with a woodcut. The primer also contained a catechism of religious questions and answers. Emphasis was placed on fear of sin, God's punishment and the fact that all people would have to face death.
Here are some examples of alphabet rhymes that teach moral values as well as reading.
A In Adam's FallWe sinned all.
B Thy Life to Mend
This Book Attend.
C The Cat doth play
And after slay.
D A Dog will bite
A Thief at night.
E An Eagle's flight
Is Out of sight.
F The Idle Fool
Is Whipt at School. Also, first appearing in the New England Primer was the Children's Prayer beginning "Now I lay me down to sleep..."
A Divine Song of Praise to GOD, for a Child,
by the Rev. Dr. Watts.
HOW glorious is
our heavenly King,
Who reigns above tha Sky!
How shall a Child presume to sing
His dreadful Majesty!
How great
his Power is none can tell,
Nor think how large his grace:
Nor men below, nor Saints that dwell,
On high before his Face.
Nor Angels
that stand round the Lord,
Can search his secret will;
But they perform his heav'nly Word,
And sing his Praises still.
Then let
me join this holy Train;
And my first Off'rings bring;
The eternal GOD will not disdain
To hear an Infant sing.
My Heart
resolves, my Tongue obeys,
And Angels shall rejoice,
To hear their mighty Maker's Praise,
Sound from a feeble Voice.
The young INFANT'S or CHILD'S morning Prayer.
From Dr. WATTS.
ALMIGHTY God the Maker of every thing in Heaven and Earth; the Darkness goes away, and the Day light comes at thy Command. Thou art good and doest good continually.
I thank thee that thou has taken such Care of me this Night, and that I am alive and well this Morning.
Save me, O God, from Evil, all this Day long, and let me love and serve thee forever, for the Sake of Jesus Christ thy Son. AMEN.The INFANT'S or young CHILD'S Evening Prayer.
From Dr. WATTS.
O LORD God who knowest all Things, thou seest me by Night as well as by Day.
I pray thee for Christ's Sake, forgive me whatsoever I have done amiss this Day, and keep me all this Night, while I am asleep.
I desire to lie down under thy Care, and to abide forever under thy Blessing, for thou art a God of all Power and everlasting Mercy. AMEN.
A |
In ADAM'S Fall |
B |
Heaven to find; |
C |
Christ crucify'd |
D |
The Deluge drown'd |
E |
ELIJAH hid |
F |
The judgment made |
G |
As runs the Glass, |
H |
My Book and Heart |
J |
JOB feels the Rod,-- |
K |
Proud Korah's troop |
L |
LOT fled to Zoar, |
M |
MOSES was he |
N |
NOAH did view |
O |
Young OBADIAS, |
P |
PETER deny'd |
Q |
Queen ESTHER sues |
R |
Young pious RUTH, |
S |
Young SAM'L dear, |
T |
Young TIMOTHY |
V |
VASHTI for Pride |
W |
Whales in the Sea, |
X |
XERXES did die, |
Y |
While youth do chear |
Z |
ZACCHEUS he |
Who was the first man ? |
Adam. |
Who was the first woman ? |
Eve. |
Who was the first Murderer ? |
Cain. |
Who was the first Martyr ? |
Abel. |
Who was the first Translated ? |
Enoch. |
Who was the oldest Man ? |
Methuselah. |
Who built the Ark ? |
Noah. |
Who was the Patientest Man ? |
Job. |
Who was the Meekest Man ? |
Moses. |
Who led Israel into Canaan ? |
Joshua. |
Who was the strongest Man ? |
Sampson. |
Who killed Goliah ? |
David. |
Who was the wisest Man ? |
Soloman. |
Who was in the Whale's Belly? |
Jonah. |
Who saves lost Men ? |
Jesus Christ. |
Who is Jesus Christ ? |
The Son of God. |
Who was the Mother of Christ ? |
Mary. |
Who betrayed his Master ? |
Judas. |
Who denied his Master ? |
Peter. |
Who was the first Christian Martyr? |
Stephen. |
Who was chief Apostle of the Gentiles ? |
Saul. |
The Infant's Grace before and after Meat.
BLESS me, O Lord, and let my food strengthen me to serve thee, for Jesus Christ's sake. AMEN.
I Desire to thank God who gives me food to eat every day of my life. AMEN.
What's right and good now shew me Lord, and lead me by they grace and word. Thus shall I be a child of God, and love and fear they hand and rod.
An Alphabet of Lessons for Youth.
A Wise son maketh a glad father, but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
BEtter is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure & trouble therewith.
COme unto Christ all ye that labor and are heavy laden and he will give you rest.
DO not the abominable thing which I hate saith the Lord.
EXcept a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
FOolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
GODLINESS is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and that which is to come.
HOLINESS becomes GOD's house for ever.
IT is good for me to draw near unto GOD.
KEEP thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.
LIARS shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.
MANY are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivereth them out of them all.
NOW is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.
OUT of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
PRAY to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which sees in secret shall reward thee openly.
QUIT you like men, be strong, stand fast in the faith.
REMEMBER thy Creator in the days of thy youth.
SEest thou a man wise in his own conceit, there is more hope of a fool than of him.
TRUST in God at all times, ye people, pour out your hearts before him.
UPON the wicked, God shall rain an horrible tempest.
WO to the wicked, it shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
EXHORT one another daily while it is called to day, lest any of you be hardened thro' the deceitfulness of sin.
YOUNG men ye have overcome the wicked one.
ZEal hath consumed me, because thy enemies have forgotten the word of God.
The LORD's Prayer.
OUR Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. AMEN.
The CREED.
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, which was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he arose again from the dead, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father, Almighty. From thence he shall come to judge both the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlafting. AMEN.
Dr. WATTS'S Cradle Hymn.
HUSH my dear, lie still and slumber,
holy angels guard thy bed,
Heavenly blessings without number,
gently falling on thy head.
Sleep my babe, thy food and raiment
house and home thy friends provide,
All without thy care or payment,
all thy wants are well supply'd.
How much better thou'rt attended,
than the Son of God could be,
When from heaven he descended,
and became a child like thee.
Soft and easy is thy cradle,
coarse and hard thy Saviour lay,
When his birth-place was a stable,
and his softest bed was hay.
Blessed Babe ! what glorious features
spotless fair, divinely bright! !
Must he dwell with brutal creatures,
how could angels bear the sight !
Was there nothing but a manger,
cursed sinners could afford,
To receive the heavenly stranger;
did they thus affront their Lord.
Soft my child I did not chide thee,
tho' my song may sound too hard;
'Tis thy mother sits beside thee,
and her arms shall be thy guard.
Yet to read the shameful story,
how the Jews abus'd their King,
How they serv'd the Lord of glory,
makes me angry while, I sing.
See the kinder shepherds round him,
telling wonders from the sky;
There they sought him, there they found him,
with his Virgin Mother by.
See the lovely Babe a dreaming;
lovely Infant how he smil'd !
When he wept, the Mother's blessing
sooth'd and hush'd the holy child.
Lo ! he slumbers in his manger,
where the horned oxen fed;
Peace my darling here's no danger
here's no Ox a near thy bed.
'Twas to save thee, child from dying,
save my dear from burning flame,
Bitter groans and endless crying,
that thy blest Redeemer came.
May'st thou live to know and fear him,
trust and love him all thy days !
Then go dwell for ever near him,
see his face and sing his praise.
I could give thee thousand kisses,
hoping what I most desire:
Not a mother's fondest wishes,
can to greater joys aspire.
VERSES for Children.
THOUGH I am young a little one,
If I can Speak and go alone,
Then I must learn to know the Lord,
And learn to read his holy word.
'Tis time to seek to God and pray
For what I want for every day:
I have a precious soul to save,
And I a mortal body have,
Tho' I am young yet I may die,
And hasten to eternity:
There is a dreadful fiery hell,
Where wicked ones must always dwell:
There is a heaven full of Joy,
Where godly ones must always stay:
To one of these my soul must fly,
As in a moment when I die:
When God that made me, calls me home,
I must not stay I must be gone.
He gave me life, and gives me breath,
And he can save my soul from death,
By JESUS CHRIST my only Lord,
According to his holy word.
He clothes my back and makes me warm:
He saves my flesh and bones from harm.
He gives me bread and milk and meat
And all I have that's good to eat.
When I am sick, he if he please,
Can make me well and give me ease:
He gives me sleep and quiet rest,
Whereby my body is refresh'd
The Lord is good and kind to me,
And very thankful I must be:
I must obey and love and fear him
, By faith in Christ I must draw near him.
I must not sin as others do,
Lest I lie down in sorrow too:
For God is angry every day,
With wicked ones who go astray,
All sinful words I must restrain:
I must not take God's name in vain.
I must not work, I must not play,
Upon God's holy sabbath day.
And if my parents speak the word,
I must obey them in the Lord.
Nor steal, nor lie, nor spend my days,
In idle tales and foolish plays,
I must obey my Lord's commands,
Do something with my little hands:
Remember my creator now,
In youth while time will it allow.
Young SAMUEL that little child,
He serv'd the Lord, liv'd undefil'd;
Him in his service God employ'd,
While ELI's wicked children dy'd:
When wicked children mocking said,
To a good man, Go up bald head,
God was displeas'd with them and sent
Two bears which them in pieces rent,
I must not like these children vile,
Displease my God, myself defile.
Like young ABIJAH, I must see,
That good things may be found in me,
Young King JOSIAH, that blessed youth,
He sought the Lord and lov'd the truth;
He like a King did act his part,
And follow'd God with all his heart.
The little children they did sing,
Hosannahs to their heavenly King.
That blessed child young TIMOTHY,
Did learn God's word most heedfully.
It seem'd to be his recreation,
Which made him wise unto salvation:
By faith in Christ which he had gain'd
With prayers and tears that faith unfeign'd
These good examples were for me;
Like these good children I must be.
Give me true faith in Christ my Lord,
Obedience to his holy word,
No word is in the world like thine,
There's none so pure, sweet and divine.
From thence let me thy will behold,
And love thy word above fine gold.
Make my heart in thy statutes sound,
And make my faith and love abound.
Lord circumcise my heart to love thee:
And nothing in this world above thee:
Let me behold thy pleased face,
And make my soul to grow in grace,
And in the knowledge of my Lord
And Saviour Christ, and of his word.
Another.
AWAKE,
arise, behold thou hast,
Thy life a leaf, thy breath a blast;
At night lay down prepar'd to have
Thy sleep, thy death, thy bed, thy grave.
LORD if thou
lengthen out my days,
Then let my heart so fixed be,
That I may lengthen out thy praise,
And never turn aside from thee.
So in my end I shall rejoice,
In thy salvation joyful be;
My soul shall say with loud glad voice,
JEHOVAH who is like to thee ?
Who taketh the lambs into thy arms,
And gently leadeth those with young,
Who saveth children from all harms,
Lord, I will praise thee with my song.
And when my days on earth shall end,
And I go hence and be here no more,
Give me eternity to spend,
My GOD to praise forever more.
Another.
Good children must,
Fear God all day, Love Christ alway,
Parents obey, In secret pray,
No false thing say, Mind little play,
By no sin stray, Make no delay,
In doing good.
Another.
In
the burying place may see,
Graves shorter there than I,
From death's arrest no age is free,
Young children too must die.
My God may such an awful sight,
Awakening be to me !
Oh ! that by early grace I might
For death prepared be.
Another.
Now
I lay me down to take my sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Another.
First
in the morning when thou dost awake,
To God for his grace thy petition make,
Some heavenly petition use daily to say,
That the God of heaven may bless thee alway.
Duty to God and our neighbour.
LOVE
God with all your soul & strength,
With all your heart and mind;
And love your neighbour as yourself,
Be faithful, just and kind.
Deal with another as you'd have
Another deal with you:
What you're unwilling to receive,
Be sure you never do.
Our Saviour's Golden Rule.
BE
you to others kind and true,
As you'd have others be to you:
And neither do nor say to men,
Whate'er you would not take again.
The Sum of the ten Commandments.
WITH all thy soul love God above,And as thyself thy neighbour love.
Advice to Youth. Eccle. xii.
Now in the heat of youthful blood,Remember your Creator God;
Behold the months come hast'ning on,
When you sfhall say, My joys are gone.
Behold the aged sinner goes
Laden with guilt and heavy woes,
Down to the regions of the dead,
With endless curses on his head.
The dust returns to dust again,
The soul in agonies of pain,
Ascends to God not there to dwell,
But hears her doom and sinks to hell.
Eternal King I fear thy name,
Teach me to know how frail I am,
And when my soul must hence remove,
Give me a mansion in thy love.
Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth.
CHILDREN your
great Creator fear,
To him your homage pay,
While vain employments fire your blood,
And lead your thoughts astray.
The due remembrance of his name
Your first regard requires:
Till your breast glows with sacred love,
Indulge no meaner fires.
Secure his favour, and be wise
Before these cheerless days,
When age comes on, when mirth's no more,
And health and strength decays.
Some proper Names of MEN and WOMEN,
to teach Children to spell their own.
Men's Names
Adam, Abel, Abraham, Amos, Aaron, Abijah, Andrew, Alexander, Anthony, Bartholomew, Benjamin, Barnabas, Benoni, Barzillai, Caleb, Caesar, Charles, Christopher, Clement, Cornelius, David, Daniel, Ephraim, Edward, Edmund, Ebenezer, Elijah, Eliphalet, Elisha, Eleazer, Elihu, Ezekiel, Elias, Elizur, Frederick, Francis, Gilbert, Giles, George, Gamalial, Gideon, Gershom, Heman, Henry, Hezekiah, Hugh, John, Jonas, Isaac, Jacob, Jared, Job, James, Jonathan, Israel, Joseph, Jeremiah, Joshua, Josiah, Jedediah, Jabez, Joel, Judah, Lazarus, Luke, Mathew, Michael, Moses, Malachi, Nathaniel, Nathan, Nicholas, Noadiah, Nehemiah, Noah, Obadiah, Ozias, Paul, Peter, Philip, Phineas, Peletiah, Ralph, Richard, Samuel, Sampson, Stephen, Solomon, Seth, Simeon, Saul, Shem, Shubal, Timothy, Thomas, Titus, Theophilus, Uriah, Uzzah, Walter, William, Xerxes, Xenophon, Zachariah, Zebdiel, Zedekiah, Zadock, Zebulon, Zebediah,
Women's Names.
ABigail, Anne, Alice, Anna, Bethiah, Bridget, Cloe, Charity, Deborah, Dorothy, Dorcas, Dinah, Damaris, Elizabeth, Esther, Eunice, Eleanor, Frances, Flora, Grace, Gillet, Hannah, Huldah, Hepzibah, Henrietta, Hagar. Joanna, Jane, Jamima, Isabel, Judith, Jennet, Katharine, Katura, Kezia, Lydia, Lucretia, Lucy, Louis, Lettice, Mary, Margaret, Martha, Mehitable, Marcy, Merial, Patience, Phylis, Phebe, Priscilla, Rachel, Rebecca, Ruth, Rhode, Rose, Sarah, Susanna, Tabitha, Tamefin, Ursula, Zipporah, Zibiah
Some few days before his death, he wrote the following
Advice to his Children.
GIVE ear my
children to my words
Whom God hath dearly bought,
Lay up his laws within your heart,
and print them in your thoughts.
I leave you here a little book
for you to look upon,
That you may see your father's face
when he is dead and gone:
Who for the hope of heavenly things,
While he did here remain,
Gave over all his golden years
to prison and to pain.
Where I, among my iron bands,
inclosed in the dark,
Not many days before my death,
I did compose this work:
And for example to your youth,
to whom I wish all good,
I send you here God's perfect truth,
and seal it with my blood.
To you my heirs of earthly things:
which I do leave behind,
That you may read and understand
and keep it in your mind.
That as you have been heirs of that
that once shall wear away,
You also may possess that part,
which never shall decay.
Keep always God before your eyes
with all your whole intent,
Commit no sin in any wise,
keep his commandment.
Abhor that arrant whore of ROME,
and all her blasphemies,
And drink not of her cursed cup,
obey not her decrees.
Give honor to your mother dear,
remember well her pain,
And recompence her in her age,
with the like love again.
Be always ready for her help,
and let her not decay,
Remember well your father all,
who would have been your stay.
Give of your portion to the poor,
as riches do arise,
And from the needy naked soul,
turn not away your eyes:
For he that doth not hear the cry
of those that stand in need,
Shall cry himself and not be heard,
when he does hope to speed.
If GOD hath given you increase,
and blessed well your store,
Remember you are put in trust,
and should relieve the poor.
Beware of foul and filthy lust,
let such things have no place,
Keep clean your vessels in the LORD,
that he may you embrace.
Ye are the temples of the LORD,
for you are dearly bought,
And they that do defile the same,
shall surely come to nought.
Be never proud by any means,
build not your house too high,
But always have before your eyes,
that you are born to die.
Defraud not him that hired is,
your labour to sustain,
But pay him still without delay,
his wages for his pain.
And as you would that other men
against you should proceed,
Do you the same to them again,
when they do stand in need.
Impart your portion to the poor,
in money and in meat
And send the feeble fainting soul,
of that which you do eat.
Ask counsel always of the wise,
give ear unto the end,
And ne'er refuse the sweet rebuke
of him that is thy friend.
Be always thankful to the LORD,
with prayer and with praise,
Begging of him to bless your work,
and to direct your ways.
Seek first, I say, the living GOD,
and always him adore,
And then be sure that he will bless,
your basket and your store.
And I beseech Almighty GOD,
replenish you with grace,
That I may meet you in the heavens,
and see you face to face.
And though the fire my body burns,
contrary to my kind,
That I cannot enjoy your love
according to my mind:
Yet I do hope that when the heavens
shall vanish like a scroll,
I shall see you in perfect shape,
in body and in soul.
And that I may enjoy your love,
and you enjoy the land,
I do beseech the living LORD,
to hold you in his hand.
Though here my body be adjudg'd
in flaming fire to fry,
My soul I trust, will straight ascend
to live with GOD on high.
What though this carcase smart awhile
what though this life decay,
My soul I hope will be with GOD,
and live with him for aye.
I know I am a sinner born,
from the original,
And that I do deserve to die
by my fore-father's fall:
But by our SAVI0UR'S precious blood,
which on the cross was spilt,
Who freely offer'd up his life,
to save our souls from guilt;
I hope redemption I shall have,
and all who in him trust,
When I shall see him face to face,
and live among the just.
Why then should I fear death's grim look
since CHRIST for me did die,
For King and Caesar, rich and poor,
the force of death must try.
When I am chained to the stake,
and fagots girt me round,
Then pray the LORD my soul in heaven
may be with glory crown'd.
Come welcome death the end of fears,
I am prepar'd to die:
Those earthly flames will send my soul
up to the Lord on high.
Farewell my children to the world,
where you must yet remain;
The LORD of hosts be your defence,
'till we do meet again.
Farewell my true and loving wife,
my children and my friends,
I hope in heaven to fee you a11,
when all things have their end.
If you go on to serve the LORD,
as you have now begun,
You shall walk safely all your days,
until your life be done.
GOD grant you so to end your days,
as he shall think it best,
That I may meet you in the heavens,
where I do hope to rest.
OUR days begin with trouble here,
our life is but a span,
And cruel death is always near,
so frail a thing is man.
Then sow the seeds of grace whilst young,
that when thou com'st to die,
Death where's thy victory.
Choice Sentences.
- PRAYING will make us leave sinning, or sinning will make us leave praying.
- OUR weakness and inabilities break not the bond of our duties.
- WHAT we are afraid to speak before men, we should be afraid to think before GOD.
Learn these four lines by heart.
HAVE communion
with few,
Be intimate with ONE,
Deal justly with all,
Speak evil of none.
AGUR's Prayer.
REMOVE far from me vanities and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord ? Or lest I be poor and steal and take the name of my GOD in vain.
THE SHORTER
CATECHISM,
Agreed upon by the Reverend Assembly of DIVINES at Westminster.
Quest.
WHAT is the chief
end of man ?
Ans. Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him
forever.
Q. 2. What rule hath
God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him
?
A. The word of God which is contained in the scriptures
of the old and new testament is the only rule to direct
us how we may glorify God and enjoy him.
Q. 3. What do the
scriptures principally teach ?
A. The scriptures principally teach what man is to
believe concerning God, and what duty God requireth of
man.
Q. 4. What is God ?
A. God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable,
in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness
and truth.
Q. 5. Are there more
Gods then one ?
A. There is but ONE only, the living and true GOD.
Q. 6. How many persons
are there in the God-head ?
A. There are three persons in the God-head, the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one
GOD, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.
Q. 7. What are the
decrees of God ?
A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according
to the counsel of his own will, whereby for his own
glory he hath fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass.
Q. 8. How doth God
execute his decrees ?
A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation
and providence.
Q. 9. What is the work
of creation ?
A. The work of creation is God's making all things of
nothing by the word of his power, in the space of six
days, and all very good.
Q. 10. How did God
create man ?
A. God created man male & female after his own image, in
knowledge, righteousness and holiness, with dominion
over the creatures
Q. 11. What are God's
works of providence ?
A. God's works of providence are his most holy, wise and
powerful, preserving & governing all his creatures and
all their actions.
Q. 12. What special
act of providence did God exercise towards man in the
state wherein he was created ?
A. When God had created man, he entered into a covenant
of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience,
forbidding him to eat of the tree of knowledge of good
and evil, upon pain of death.
Q. 13. Did our first
parents continue in the estate wherein they were created
?
A. Our first parents being left to the freedom of their
own will, fell from the estate wherein they were
created, by sinning against God.
Q. 14. What is sin?
A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression
of the law of God.
Q. 15. What was the
sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate
wherein they were created ?
A. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the
estate wherein they were created, was their eating the
forbidden fruit.
Q. 16. Did all mankind
fall in Adam's first transgression ?
A. The covenant being made with Adam, not only for
himself, but for his posterity, all mankind descending
from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell
will him in his first transgression.
Q. 17. Into what
estate did the fall bring mankind ?
A. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and
misery.
Q. 18. Wherein
consists the sinfulness of that estate where into man
fell ?
A. The sinfulness of that estate where into man fell,
consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want of
original righteousness, & the corruption of his whole
nature, which is commonly called original sin, together
with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.
Q. 19. What is the
misery of that state whereinto man fell ?
A. All mankind by the fall lost communion with God, are
under his wrath & curse, and so made liable to the
miseries in this life, to death itself, & to the pains
of hell forever. Q. 20. Did God leave all mankind to
perish in the State of sin and misery ?
A. God having out of his mere good pleasure from all
eternity elected some to everlasting life, did enter
into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of a state
of sin and misery, and to bring them into a state of
salvation by a Redeemer.
Q. 21. Who is the
Redeemer of God's elect?
A. The only Redeemer of God's elect, is the Lord Jesus
Christ, who being the eternal Son of God, became man,
and so was, and continues to be God and man, in two
distinct natures, and one person forever.
Q. 22. How did Christ
being the Son of God become man ?
A. Christ the Son of God became man by taking to himself
a true body and a resonable soul, being conceived by the
power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary,
and born of her, and yet without sin.
Q. 23. What offices
doth Christ execute as our Redeemer ?
A. Christ as our Redeemer executes the office of a
prophet, of a priest, & of a king, both in his estate of
humiliation and exaltation.
Q. 24. How doth Christ
execute the office of a prophet ?
A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet in revealing
to us by his word and spirit, the will of God for our
salvation.
Q. 25. How doth Christ
execute the office of a priest ?
A. Christ executeth the office of a priest in his once
offering up himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine
justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making
continual intercession for us.
Q. 26. How doth Christ
execute the office of a king ?
A. Christ executeth the office of a king in subduing us
to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in
restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.
Q. 27. Wherein did
Christ's humiliation consist?
A. Christ's humiliation consisted in his being born and
that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing
the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the
cursed death of the cross, in being buried and
continuing under the power of death for a time.
Q. 28. Wherein
consists Christ's exaltation?
A. Christ's exaltation consisteth in his rising again
from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into
heaven, and sitting at the right hand of God the Father,
and in coming to judge the world at the last day.
Q. 29. How are we made
partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ ?
A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by
Christ by the effectual application of it to us by his
holy Spirit.
Q. 30. How doth the
Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ ?
A. The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by
Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us
to Christ in our effectual calling.
Q. 31. What is
effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit,
whereby convincing us of our sin and misery,
enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and
renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to
embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the
gospel.
Q. 32. What benefits
do they that are effectually called partake of in this
life ?
A. They that are effectually called do in this life
partake of justification, adoption, and sanctification,
and the several benefits which in this life do either
accompany or flow from them.
Q. 33. What is
justification ?
A. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein
he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous
in his sight only for the righteousness of Christ
imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
Q. 34. What is
adoption ?
A. Adoption is an act of God's free grace, whereby we
are received into the number, and have a right to all
the privileges of the sons of God. Q. 35. What is
sanctification ?
A. Sanctification is the work of God's free grace,
whereby we are renewed in the whole man, after the image
of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin,
and live unto righteousness.
Q. 36. What are the
benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from
justification, adoption and sanctification ?
A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow
from justification, adoption and sanctification, are
assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, joy in the
holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein
to the end.
Q. 37. What benefits
do believers receive from Christ at their death ?
A. The souls of believers are at their death made
perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory,
and their bodies being still united to Christ do rest in
their graves 'till the resurrection.
Q. 38. What benefits
do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection ?
A. At the resurrection believers being raised up to
glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the
day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full
enjoyment of God to all eternity.
Q. 39. What is the
duty which God requires of man ?
A. The duty which God requires of man is obedience to
his revealed will.
Q. 40. What did God at
first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience ?
A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his
obedience was the moral law.
Q. 41. Where is the
moral law summarily comprehended ?
A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten
commandments.
Q. 42. What is the sum
of the ten commandments ?
A. The sum of the ten commandments is, to love the Lord
our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all
our strength, and with all our mind, and our neighbour
as ourselves.
Q. 43. What is the
preface to the ten commandments ?
A. The preface to the ten commandments is in these
words, I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out
of the land of Egypt, and out of the house of bondage.
Q. 44. What doth the
preface to the ten commandments teach us ?
A. The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, that
because God is the Lord, and our God and Redeemer,
therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments.
Q. 45. Which is the
first commandment ?
A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other
Gods before me.
Q. 46. What is
required in the first commandment ?
A. The first commandment requireth us to know and
acknowledge God, to be the only true God, and our God,
and to worship and glorify him accordingly.
Q. 47. What is
forbidden in the first commandment ?
A. The first commandment forbiddeth the denying or not
worshipping and glorifying the true God, as God, and our
God, and the giving that worship and glory to any other
which is due to him alone.
Q. 48. What are we
especially taught by these words (before me) in
the first commandment ?
A. These words (before me) in the first
commandment, teach us, that God who seeth all things,
taketh notice of and is much displeased with the sin of
having any other God.
Q. 49. Which is the
second commandment ?
A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto
thee any graven image, or the likeness of any thing that
is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or
that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow
down thyself to them nor serve them, for I the Lord thy
God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the
fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth
generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy unto
thousands of them that love me & keep my commandments.
Q. 50. What is
required in the second commandment ?
A. The second commandment requireth the receiving,
observing, & keeping pure and entire all such religious
worship and ordinances, as God hath appointed in his
word.
Q. 51. What is
forbidden in the second commandment ?
A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of
God by images or any other way not appointed in his
word.
Q. 52. What are the
reasons annexed to the second commandment ?
A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment, are
God's sovereignty over us, his propriety in us, and the
zeal he hath to his own worship.
Q. 53. Which is the
third commandment ?
A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the
name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord wilt not
hold him guiltless, that taketh his name in vain.
Q. 54. What is
required in the third commandment ?
A. The third commandment requireth the holy and reverent
use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, word
and works.
Q. 55. What is
forbidden in the third commandment ?
A. The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or
abusing of any thing whereby God maketh himself known.
Q. 56. What is the
reason annexed to the third commandment ?
A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is, That
however the breakers of this commandment may escape
judgment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer
them to escape his righteous judgment.
Q. 57. Which is the
Fourth commandment ?
A. The fourth commandment is, Remember the Sabbath day
to keep it holy, six days shalt thou labor and do all
thy work, but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord
thy God, in it thou shalt not do any work, thou nor thy
son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid
servant, nor thy cattle, nor the stranger that is within
thy gates, for in six days the Lord made heaven and
earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the
seventh day, wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day
and hallowed it.
Q. 58. What is
required in the fourth commandment ?
A. The fourth commandment requireth, the keeping holy to
God such set times as he hath appointed in his word,
expressly one whole day in seven to be an holy Sabbath
to himself.
Q. 59. Which day of
the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly sabbath ?
A. From the beginning of the world, to the resurrection
of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to
be the weekly sabbath, and the first day of the week
ever since to continue to the end of the world which is
the Christian Sabbath.
Q. 60. How is the
sabbath to be sanctified ?
A. The sabbath is to be sanctified by an holy resting
all that day, even from such worldly employments and
recreations as are lawful on other days, and spending
the whole time in public and private exercises of God's
worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the
works of necessity and mercy.
Q. 61. What is
forbidden in the fourth commandment ?
A. The fourth commandment forbiddeth, the omission or
careless performance of the duties required, and the
profaning the day by idleness or doing that which is in
itself sinful, or any unnecessary thoughts, words or
works, about worldly employments or recreations.
Q. 62. What are the
reasons annexed to the fourth commandment ?
A . The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, are
God s allowing us six days of the week for our own
employment, his challenging a special propriety in the
seventh, his own example, & his blessing the sabbath
day.
Q. 63. Which is the
fifth commandment ?
A . The fifth commandment is, Honor thy father and thy
mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which
the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Q. 64. What is
required in the fifth commandment ?
A. The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the
honor, and performing the duties belonging to every one
in their several places and relations, as superiors,
inferiors, or equals.
Q. 65. What is
forbidden in the fifth commandment ?
A. The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of,
or doing any thing against the honour and duty which
belongeth to every one in their several places and
relations.
Q. 66. What is the
reason annexed to the fifth commandment ?
A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is a
promise of long life and prosperity, (as far as it shall
serve for God's glory and their own good) to all such as
keep this commandment.
Q. 67. Which is the
sixth commandment ?
A. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill.
Q. 68. What is
required in the sixth commadment?
A. The fixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavors
to preserve our own life, and the life of others.
Q. 69. What is
forbidden in the sixth commandment ?
A. The fixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of
our own life, or the life of our neighbour unjustly, and
whatsoever tendeth thereunto.
Q. 70. Which is the
seventh commandment ?
A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit
adultery.
Q. 71. What is
required in the seventh commandment ?
A. The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of
our own and our neighbor's chastity, in heart, speech &
behaviour.
Q. 72. What is
forbidden in the seventh commandment ?
A. The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste
thoughts, words and actions.
Q. 73. Which is the
eighth commandment ?
A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal.
Q. 74. What is
required in the eighth commandment ?
A. The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring
& furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves
and others.
Q. 75. What is
forbidden in the eighth commandment ?
A. The eighth commandlnent forbiddeth whatsoever doth,
or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbours wealth
or outward estate.
Q. 76. Which is the
ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou Shalt not bear false
witness against thy neighbour.
Q. 77. What is
required in the ninth commandment ?
A. The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and
promoting of truth between man & man, & of our own & our
neighbor's good name, especially in witness bearing.
Q 78. What is forbidden
in the ninth commandment ?
A. The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is
prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own or our
neighbor's good name.
Q 79. Which is the tenth
commandment ?
A. The tenth commandmelat is, Thou shalt not covet thy
neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's
wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his
ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
Q . 80. What is required
in the tenth commandment ?
A. The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with
our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of
spirit towards our neighbour, and all that is his.
Q. 81. What is
forbidden in the tenth commandment ?
A. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment
with our own estaxe, envying or grieving at the good of
our neigbbour, and all inordinate motions and affections
to any thing that is his.
Q. 82. Is any man able
perfectly to keep the commandments of God ?
A. No mere man since the fall is able in this Iife
perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but daily
doth break them in thought, word and deed.
Q. 83. Are all
transgressions of the law equally heinous ?
A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several
aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than
others.
Q. 84. What doth every
sin deserve ?
A. Every sin deserves God's wrath & curse both in this
life, and that which is to come.
Q. 85. What doth God
require of us that we may escape his wrath and due due
to us for sin?
A. To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for
sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ,
repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all
outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the
benefits of redemption.
Q. 86. What is faith in
Jesus Christ ?
A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace whereby we
receive & rest upon him alone for salvation as he is
offered to us in the gospel.
Q. 87. What is
repentance unto life ?
A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a
sinner out of the true senre of his sin and apprehension
of the mercy of God in Christ, doth with grief and
hatred of his sin turn from it unto God, with full
purpose of and endeavours after new obedience.
Q. 88. What are the
outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth
to us the benefits of redemption ?
A. The outward and ordinary means where by Christ
communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his
ordinances, especially the word, sacraments and prayer;
all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.
Q. 89. How is the word
made effectual to salvation ?
A. The spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially
the preaching of the word an effectual means of
convincing and converting sinners, and of building them
up in holiness and comfort, through faith unto
salvation.
Q. 90. How is the word
to be read and heard that it may become effectual to
salvation ?
A. That the word may become effectual to salvation, we
must attend there unto with diligence, preparation and
prayer, receive it wilh faith and love, lay it up in our
hearts, and practice it in our lives.
Q. 91 How do the
sacraments become effectual means of salvation ?
A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation
not from any virtue in them or in him that doth
administer them, but only by the blessig of Christ, and
the working of the Spirit in them that by faith receive
them.
Q. 92. What is a
sacrament ?
A. A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by
Christ, wherein by sensable signs, Christ & the benefits
of the new covenant are represented sealed and applied
to believers.
Q. 93. What are the
sacraments of the New Testament?
21. The sacraments of the New Testament are baptism and
the Lord's supper.
Q. 94. What is baptism
?
A. Baptism is a sacrament wherein the washing of water
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Ghost, doth signify and seal our ingrasting into Christ
and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace,
& our engagements to be the Lord's.
Q.95. To whom is
baptism to be administered ?
A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out
of the visilble church, till they profess their faith in
Christ, and obedience to him, but the infants of such as
are members of the visible church are to be baptized.
Q. 96. What is the
Lord's supper?
A. The Lord's supper is a sacrament, wherein by giving
and receiving bread and wine according to Christ's
appointment, his death is shewed forth, and the worthy
receivers are not after a corporal and carnal manner,
but by faith made partakers of his body and blood, with
all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment snd
growth in grace.
Q. 97. What is
required in the worthy receiving the Lord's supper ?
A. It is required of them that would worthily partake of
the Lord's supper, that they examine themselves of their
knowledge to discern the Lord's body, of their faith to
feed upon him, of their repentance, love and new
obedience, lest coming unworthily, they eat and drink
judgment to themselves.
Q. 98. What is prayer
?
A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires to God for
things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ with
confession of our sins, & thankful acknowledgment of his
mercies.
Q. 99. What rule hath
God given for our direction in prayer ?
A. The whole word of God is of use to direct us in
prayer but the special rule of direction is that form of
prayer which Christ taught his disciples commonly
called, The Lord's Prayer.
Q. 100. What doth the
preface of the Lord's prayer teach us ?
A . The preface of the Lord's prayer which is Our
Fatherwhich art in heaven, teacheth us, to draw near
to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as
children to a father, able and ready to help us, and
that we should pray with and for others.
Q. 101 . What do we
pray for in the first petition ?
A. In the first petition, which is, Hallowed be thy
name, we pray that God would enable us and others to
glorify him in all that whereby he makes himself known,
and that he would dispose all things to his own glory.
Q. 102. What do we
pray for in thc second petition ?
A. In the second petition, which is, Thy kingdom
come, we pray that satan's kingdom may be destroyed,
the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and
others bro't into it, and kept in it, and that the
kingdom of glory may be hastened.
Q. 103. What do we
pray for in the third petition ?
A. In the third petition, which is, Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven, we pray that God by his
grace would make us able and willing to know, obey and
submit to his will in all things, as the angels do in
heaven.
Q. 104. What do we
pray for in the fourth petition ?
A. In tbe fourth petition, which is, Give us this day
our daily bread, we pray, that of God's free gift we
may receive a competent portion of the good things of
this life, and enjoy his blessing with them.
Q. 105. What do we
pray for in the fifth petition ?
A. In the fifth petition, which is, And forgive us
our debts as we forgive our debtors, we pray that
God for Christ's sake, would freely pardon all our sins,
which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by
his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive
others.
Q. 106. What do we
pray for in the sixth petition ?
A. ln the sixth petition, which is, And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil, we pray
that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin,
or support and deliver us when we are tempted.
Q. 107. What doth the
conclusion of the Lord's prayer teach us ?
A. The conclusion of the Lord's prayer, which is, For
thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever, AMEN, teacheth us, to take our
encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our
prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power and
glory to him, and in testimony of our desire and
assurance to be heard, we say, AMEN.
Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Rev. xxii. 14.
A DIALOGUE between CHRIST, YOUTH, and the Devil.
YOUTH
THose
days which God to me doth send,
In pleasure I'm resolv'd to spend;
Like as the birds in th' lovely spring,
Sit chirping on the bough, and sing;
Who straining forth those warbling notes,
Do make sweet music in their throats,
So I resolve in this my prime,
In sports and plays to spend my time.
Sorrow and grief I'll put away,
Such things agree not with my day;
From clouds my morning shall be free;
And nought on earth shall trouble me.
I will embrace each sweet delight,
This earth affords me day and night:
Though parents grieve and me correct,
Yet I their counsel will reject.
Devil.
The
resolution which you take,
Sweet youth it doth me merry make.
If thou my counsel wilt embrace,
And shun the ways of truth and grace,
And learn to lie, and curse and swear,
And be as proud as any are;
And with thy brothers wilt fall out,
And fisters with vile language flout:
Yea, fight and scratch, and also bite,
Then in thee I will take delight.
If thou wilt but be rul'd by me,
An artist thou shalt quickly be,
In all my ways which lovely are,
Ther'e few with thee who shall compare.
Thy parents always disobey;
Don't mind at all what they do say:
And also pout and sullen be,
And thou thalt be a child for me.
When others read, be thou at play,
Think not on God, don't sigh nor pray
Nor be thou such a silly fool,
To mind thy book or go to school;
But play the truant; fear not I
Will straitway help you to a lie,
Which will excuse thee from the same,
From being whipp'd and from all blame;
Come bow to me, uphold my crown,
And I'll thee raise to high renown.
YOUTH.
These
motions I will cleave unto,
And let all other counsels go;
My heart against my parents now,
Shall harden'd be, and will not bow:
I won't submit at all to them,
But all good counsels will condemn,
And what I list that do will I,
And stubborn be continually.
CHRIST.
Wilt
thou, O youth make such a choice,
And thus obey the devil's voice !
Curst sinful ways wilt thou embrace,
And hate the ways of truth and grace ?
Wilt thou to me a rebel prove ?
And from thy parents quite remove
Thy heart also ? Then shalt thou see,
What will e'er long become of thee.
Come, think on God, who did thee make,
And at his prefence dread and quake,
Remember him now in thy youth,
And let thy soul take hold of truth:
The Devil and his ways defy,
Believe him not, he doth but lie:
His ways seem sweet, but youth beware,
He for thy soul hath laid a snare.
His sweet will into bitter turn,
If in those ways thou still wilt run,
He will thee into pieces tear,
Like lions which most hungry are.
Grant me thy heart, thy folly leave,
And from this lion l'll thee save;
And thou shalt have sweet joy from me,
Which shall last to eternity.
YOUTH.
My
heart shall chear me in my youth,
I'11 have my frolicks in good truth,
What e'er seems lovely in mine eye,
Myself I cannot it deny.
In my own ways I still will walk,
And take delight among young folk,
Who spend their days in joy and mirth,
Nothing like that I'm sure on earth:
Thy ways, O Christ ! are not for me,
They with my age do not agree.
If I unto thy laws should cleave,
No more good days then should I have.
CHRIST.
Woul'st
thou live long and good days see
Refrain from all iniquity:
True good alone doth from me flow,
lt can't be had in things below.
Are not my ways, O youth ! for thee,
Then thou shalt never happy be;
Nor ever shall thy soul obtain,
True good, whilst thou doth here remain.
YOUTH.
To
thee, O Christ, I'll not adhere,
What thou speak'st of does not appear
Lovely to me I cannot find,
'Tis good to set or place my mind
On ways whence many forrows spring,
And to the flesh such crosses bring,
Don't trouble me, I must fulfil,
My fleshly mind, and have my will.
CHRIST.
Unto
thyself then I'll thee leave,
That Satan may thee wholly have:
Thy heart in sin shall harden'd be,
And blinded in iniquity.
And then in wrath I'll cut thee down,
Like as the grass and flowers mown;
And to thy woe thou shalt espy,
Childhood and youth are vanity;
For all such things I'll make thee know
To judgment thou shall come also.
In hell at last thy soul shall burn,
When thou thy sinful race hast run.
Consider this, think on thy end
Lest God do thee in pieces rend.
YOUTH.
Amazed,
Lord ! I now begin,
O help me and I'll leave my sin:
I tremble, and do greatly fear,
To think upon what I do hear.
Lord ! I religious now will be,
And I'll from Satan turn to thee.
Devil
Nay,
foolish youth, don't change thy mind,
Unto such thoughts be not inclin'd.
Come, cheer up thy heart, rouse up, be glad:
There is no hell; why art thou sad ?
Eat, drink, be merry with thy friend,
For when thou diest, that's thy last end.
YOUTH.
Such
thoughts as these I can't receive,
Because God's word I do believe;
None shall in this destroy my faith,
Nor do I mind what Satan saith.
Devil.
Although to thee herein I yield
Yet e'er long I shall win the field
That there's a heaven I can't deny,
Yea, and a hell of misery:
That heaven is a love]y place
I can't deny; tis a clear case;
And easy 'tis for to come there,
Therefore take thou no further care,
All human laws do thou observe,
And from o]d customs never swerve;
Do not oppose what great men say,
And thou shalt never go astray.
Thou may'st be drunk, and swear and curse,
And sinners like thee ne'er the worse;
At any time thou may'n repent;
'Twill serve when all thy days are spent.
CHRIST.
Take
heed or else thou art undone;
These thoughts are from the wicked One,
Narrow's the way that leads to life,
Who walk therein do meet with strife.
Few shall be saved, young man know,
Most do unto destruction go.
If righteous ones scarce saved be,
What will at last become of thee !
Oh ! don't reject my precious call,
Lest suddenly in hell thou fall;
Unless you soon converted be,
God's kingdom thou shalt never see.
YOUTH.
Lord, I
am now at a great stand:
If I should yield to thy command,
My comrades will me much deride,
And never more will me abide.
Moreover, this I also know,
Thou can'st at last great mercy show.
When I am old, and pleasure gone,
Then what thou say'st I'll think upon.
CHRIST.
Nay,
hold vain youth, thy time is short,
I have thy breath, l'll end thy sport;
Thou shalt not live till thou art old,
Since thou in sin art grown so bold.
I in thy youth grim death will send,
And all thy sports shall have an end.
YOUTH.
I am
too young, alas to die,
Let death some old grey head espy.
O spare me, and I will amend,
And with thy grace my soul befriend,
Or else I am undone alas,
For I am in a woful case.
CHRIST.
When I
did call, you would not hear,
But did to me turn a deaf ear;
And now in thy calamity,
I will not mind nor hear thy cry;
Thy day is past, begone from me,
Thou who didst love iniquity,
Above thy soul and Saviour dear;
Who on the cross great pains did bear,
My mercy thou didst much abuse,
And all good counsel didst refuse,
Justice will therefore vengeance take,
And thee a sad example make.
YOUTH.
O Spare
me, Lord, forbear thy hand,
Don't cut me off who trembling stand,
Begging for mercy at thy door,
O let me have but one year more.
CHRIST.
If thou
some longer time should have,
Thou wouldst again to folly cleave:
Therefore to thee I will not give,
One day on earth longer to live.
Death.
Youth,
I am come to fetch thy breath,
And carry thee to th' shades of death,
No pity on thee can I show,
Thou has thy God offended so.
Thy soul and body I'll divide,
Thy body in the grave I'll hide,
And thy dear soul in hell must lie,
With Devils to eternity.
The conclusion.
Thus
end the days of woful youth,
Who won't obey nor mind the truth;
Nor hearken to what preachers say,
But do their parents disobey.
They in their youth go down to hell,
Under eternal wrath to dwell.
Many don't live out half their days,
For cleaving unto sinful ways.
SPIRITUAL MILK
FOR
American BABES,
Drawn
out of the Breasts of both Testaments,
for their Souls Nourishment.
By JOHN COTTON.
Q.
WHAT hath God done for you ?
A. God hath made me, he keepeth me, and he can save me.
Q. What is God ?
A. God is a Spirit of himself & for himself.
Q. How many Gods be
there ?
A. There is but one God in three Persons, the Father,
and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Q. How did God make
you ?
A. In my first parents holy and righteous.
Q. Are you then born
holy and righteous ?
A. No, my first father sinned and I in him.
Q. Are you then born a
sinner ?
A. I was conceived in sin, & born in iniquity.
Q. What is your birth
sin ?
A. Adam's sin imputed to me, and a corrupt nature
dwelling in me.
Q. What is your
corrupt nature ?
A. My corrupt nature is empty of grace, bent unto sin,
only unto sin, and that continually.
Q. What is sin ?
A. Sin is a transgression of the law.
Q. How many
commandments of the law be there ?
A. Ten.
Q. What is the first
commandment ?
A .Thou fhalt have no other Gods before me.
Q . What is the meaning
of this commandment ?
A. That we should worship the only true God, and no
other besides him.
Q. What is the second
commandment ?
A. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, &c.
Q. What is the meaning
of this commandment ?
A. That we thould worship the only true God, with true
worship, such as he hath ordained, not such as man hath
invented.
Q. What is the third
commandment ?
A. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in
vain.
Q. What is meant by
the name of God ?
A. God himself & the good things of God, whereby he is
known as a man by his name, and his attributes, worship,
word and works.
Q. What is it not to
take his name in vain ?
A. To make use of God & the good things of God to his
glory, and our own good, not vainly, not irreverently,
not unprofitably.
Q. Which is the fourth
commandment ?
A. Remember that thou keep holy the sabbath day.
Q. What is the meaning
of this commandment ?
A. That we should rest from labor, and much more from
play on the Lord's day, that we may draw nigh to God in
holy duties.
Q. What is the fifth
commandment ?
A. Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be
long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Q. What are meant by
father and mother ?
A. All our superiors whether in family, school, church
and commonwealth.
Q. What is the honor
due unto them ?
A. Reverence, obedience, and (when I am able)
recompence.
Q. What is the sixth
commandment?
A. Thou shalt do no murder.
Q. What is the meaning
of this commandment?
A. That we should not shorten the life or health of
ourselves or others, but preserve both
Q. What is the seventh
commandment ?
A. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Q. What is the sin
here forbidden ?
A. To defile ourselves or others with unclean lusts.
Q. What is the duty
here commanded ?
A. Chastity to posess our vessels in holiness and honor.
Q. What is the eighth
commandment ?
A. Thou shalt not steal.
Q. What is the stealth
here forbidden ?
A. To take away another man's goods without his leave,
or to spend our own without benefit to ourselves or
others.
Q. What is the duty
here commanded ?
A. To get our goods honestly, to keep them safely, and
spend them thriftily.
Q. What is the ninth
commandment ?
A. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy
neighbour.
Q. What is the sin
here forbidden ?
A. To lie falsely, to think or speak untruly of
ourselves or others
Q. What is the duty
here required ?
A. Truth and faithfulness.
Q. What is the tenth
commandment ?
A. Thou shalt not covet, &c.
Q. What is the
coveting here forbidden ?
A. Lust after the things of other men, and want of
contentment with our own.
Q. Whether have you
kept all these commandments ?
A. No, I and all men are sinners.
Q. What are the wages
of sin ?
A. Death and damnation.
Q. How then look you
to be saved ?
A. Only by Jefus Christ.
Q. Who is Jesus Christ
?
A. The eternal Son of God, who for our sakes became man
that he might redeem & save us.
Q. How doth Christ
redeem and save us ?
A. By his righteous life, and bitter death, and glorious
resurrection to life again.
Q. How do we come to
have a part & fellowship with Christl in his death &
resurrection?
A. By the power of his word and spirit, which brings us
to him, and keeps us in him.
Q. What is the word ?
A. The holy scriptures of the prophets and apostles, the
old and new testament, the law and gospel.
Q. How doth the
ministry of the law bring you toward Christ ?
A. By bringing me to know my sin, and the wrath of God,
against me for it.
Q. What are you hereby
the nearer to Christ ?
A. So I come to feel my cursed estate and need of a
Saviour.
Q. How doth the
ministry of the Gospel help you in this cursed estate ?
A. By humbling me yet more, and then raising me out of
this estate.
Q. How doth the
ministry of the Gospel humble you yet more ?
A. By revealing the grace of the Lord Jesus in dying to
save sinners, and yet convincing me of my sin in not
believing on him, and of my utter insufficiency to come
to him, and so I feel myself utterly lost.
Q. How doth the
ministry of the gospel raise you up out of this lost
estate to come to Christ?
A. By teaching me the value and virtue of the death of
Christ, and the riches of his grace to lost sinners by
revealing the promise of grace to such, and by
ministering the Spirit of grace to apply Christ, and his
promise of grace unto myself, and to keep me in him.
Q. How doth the Spirit
of grace apply Christ & his promise grace unto you and
keep you in him ?
A. By begetting in me faith to receive him, prayer to
call upon him, repentance to mourn after him, and new
obedience to serve him.
Q. What is faith ?
A. Faith is the grace of the Spirit, whereby I deny
myself, and believe on Christ for righteousness and
salvation.
Q. What is prayer ?
A. It is calling upon God in the name of Christ by the
help of the Holy Ghost, according to the will of God.
Q. What is repentance
?
A. Repentance is a grace of the Spirit, whereby I loath
my sins, and myself for them and confess them before the
Lord, and mourn after Christ for the pardon of them, and
for grace to serve him in newness of life.
Q. What is the newness
of life, or new obedience ?
A. Newness of life is a grace of the Spirit, whereby I
forfake my former lust & vain company, and walk before
the Lord in the light of his word, and in the communion
of saints.
Q. What is the
communion of saints ?
A. It is the fellowship of the church in the blessings
of the covenant of grace, and the seals thereof.
Q. What is the church
?
A. It is a congregation of saints joined together in the
bond of this covenant, to worship the Lord, and to edify
one another in all his holy ordinances.
Q, What is the bond of
the covenant by which the church is joined together ?
A. It is the profession of that covenant which God has
made with his faithful people, to be a God unto them,
and to their seed.
Q. What doth the Lord
bind his people to in this covenant ?
A. To give up themselves & their seed first to the Lord
to be his people, & then to the elders & brethren of the
church to set forward the worship of God & their mutual
edification.
Q. How do they give up
themselves and their seed to the Lord ?
A. By receiving thro' faith the Lord & his covenant to
themfelves, & to their seed & accordingly walking
themselves & training up their children in the ways of
the covenant.
Q.How do they give up
themselves and their seed to the elders and brethren of
the church ?
A. By confessing of their sins, and profession of their
faith, and of their subjection to the gospel of Christ;
and so they and their seed are received into the
fellowship of the church and the seals thereof.
Q. What are the seals
of the covenant now in the days of the gospel ?
A. Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Q. What is done for
you in baptism ?
A. In baptism the washing with water is a sign and seal
of my washing in the blood and spirit of Christ, and
thereby of my ingrafting into Christ, of the pardon and
cleansing of my sins, of my raising up out of
afflictions, and also of my resurrection from the dead
at the last day.
Q. What is done for
you in the Lord's supper?
A. In the Lord's supper, the receiving of the bread
broken and the wine poured out is a sign and seal of my
receiving the communion of the body of Christ broken for
me, and of his blood shed for me, and thereby of my
growth in Christ, and the pardon and healing of my sins,
of the fellowship of the Spirit, of my strengthening and
quickening in grace, and of my sitting together with
Christ on his throne of glory at the last judgment.
Q. What was the
resurrection from the dead, which was sealed up to you
in baptism ?
A. When Christ shall come in his last judgment, all that
are in their graves shall rise again, both the just and
unjust.
Q. What is the
judgment, which is sealed up to you in the Lord's supper
?
A. At the last day we shall all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, to give an account of our
works, and receive our reward according to them.
Q. What is the reward
that shall then be given ?
A. The righteous shall go into life eternal, and the
wicked shall be cast into everlafting fire with the
Devil and his angels.