A CATECHISM: THAT IS TO SAY, An Instruction to be learned of every person before he be brought to be Confirmed by the Bishop. Question. What is your name? As there is no national Church upon earth but admitteth the children of believing parents to holy Baptism, so there is none we know of but hath some public Catechism or summary of Christian doctrine for such children, so soon as they are able, to learn: but there is no such Catechism set forth by any Church (much less by any private person) that doth or can exceed this of ours. Which is so short, that the youngest children that can learn any thing at all, may learn and say it by heart: and yet so full, that the oldest Christians that are, need know no more than what they are there taught to believe and do that they may be saved. For it contains all things necessary to salvation, and nothing else. And in this it seems to excel most other, that as all persons are (or ought to be) baptized, not into any B particular, but into Christ's Catholic, Church; so here they are not taught the opinions of this or any other particular Church or people, but the doctrine only of the Catholic Church; nothing but what the whole body of Christians all the world over agrees in. If it may any where seem to be otherwise, it is in the doctrine of the Sacraments. But that also is here worded with so great wisdom, caution, and temper, as not to contradict any other particular Church, but that all sorts of Christians, when they have duly considered it, may subscribe to every thing that is here taught. From hence appears the excellency of this which our Church hath set forth, and calls A Catechism; that is to say, An Instruction to be learned of every person before he be brought to be Confirmed by the Bishop. For when any are brought to be Confirmed by the Bishop, they must in the presence of God and of the congregation there present, renew the solemn promise and vow that was made in their names at their Baptism, ratifying and confirming the same in their own persons, and acknowledging themselves bound to believe and do all those things which their Godfathers and Godmothers then undertook for them: which they can never do with that judgment and discretion that is necessary to so solemn a work, unless they first know what those things are; and for that purpose have learned this Catechism, consisting of five parts, every one of which is necessary for every Christian to be instructed in. First, Our Baptismal Vow, or that solemn promise which we made when we were baptized. Secondly, The Apostles' Creed, wherein are contained all the Articles of the Christian faith. Thirdly, The Ten Commandments, or the moral law, wherein the whole duty of man is declared in God's own words. Fourthly, Our Lord's Prayer, wherein we are taught, by Him, how to pray for all things needful for us. Fifthly, The doctrine of the Sacraments, that Christ hath ordained in His Church. All which I shall endeavour, by His assistance, to instruct you in, that ye may understand the true sense of every word in this Catechism, and so all things necessary to your eternal salvation. First, therefore, this Catechism being designed for such as are baptized in their infancy, as well as for other, that they may be taught, so soon as they are able to learn, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession, they made then by their sureties, it was very proper to begin it with this question, What is your name? Not only because their name being the first thing that children usually know, this is the easiest question that can be put to them, and therefore the fittest to be put first; but chiefly because it is a very proper introduction to the foresaid vow, which they made when they were baptized, and leads them directly to the Articles of the Christian faith, and to the rules of holy life, which they then promised to believe and observe. For whereas they have every one two names, a Christian and a Sur-name; the latter they have from their natural parents of whom they were at first born, which is therefore properly the name of their family. But the other was given them by their spiritual parents, their Godfathers and Godmothers, when they were born again of water and of the Holy Spirit, and so were made Christians. Which therefore is called their Christian name, and is proper to every Christian person as such, as he is a Christian, that is to say, a disciple or a scholar of Jesus Christ, Acts xi. 26; one who professeth to learn of Him, and to believe and live as He hath taught in His holy word. This every one undertaketh and promiseth when he is baptized, or christened; that is, made a Christian, and therefore hath this his Christian name given him. Wherefore, as this is the only name we mean, when we ask this question, What is your name? meaning your Christian name: so their answer to this question, by declaring their Christian name, naturally brings in all they promised in their Baptism, when this name was given to them. And therefore this is the most proper question that could be thought of to be first propounded to them. From whence we may also observe, that every one's Christian name, as it is the proper name of his person, it distinguisheth him from other Christians; and as it is a Christian name, it distinguisheth him from all other sorts of people, and so puts you in mind, that you are not Jews, or Turks, or Heathens, but Christians that you are of that religion which Jesus Christ hath revealed and settled in the world; which being not only the best, but the only good and true religion professed upon the earth, you who profess it should be the best of men. So far exceeding all other in virtue and goodness, that no other people may so much as seem to be good and virtuous in comparison of you; you name the Name of Christ, and therefore you should depart from all iniquity, 2 Tim. ii. 19. You are called by Him out of darkness into His marvellous light, 1 Pet. ii. 9. and therefore you should shine as lights in the world, Phil. ii. 15. This your Christian name, whensoever you write, or read, or speak, or hear it mentioned, should put you in mind of. QUESTIONS. Wherein appears the excellency of this Catechism? Why doth it begin with this question, What is your name ?· Which is here meant ? Why is it called your Christian name? What is a Christian ? What doth this name put you in mind of? Question. Who gave you this name? Answer. My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism, wherein I was made a member of Christ, a child of God, and an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven. They who bring a child to holy Baptism, are called his Godfathers and Godmothers, because they are the means of his being there regenerate, or born again of God. They also give him his Christian name, be |