Open Collections

  THE
NEW-ENGLAND
PRIMER
IMPROVED,
For the more easy attaining the true
READING OF ENGLISH.
TO WHICH IS ADDED,
The Assembly of Divines & Episcopal
CATECHISMS.
NEW-YORK:
Printed and sold by T. & J. Swords,
No. 160 Pearl-Street.
1815.
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Vowels.
AEIOUY,   ae i ouy.
1 Consonants,
kedfghjklmnpqrsfvwxyz.
Double Letters.
ff fi ffi fl ffl.
Italic Letters.
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh li Jj
Kk LI Mm Nn Oo Pp % Rr Ss
Tt Uu Vv Wxu Xx Ty Zz.
Italic double Letters*
The Capital Letters.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
PQRSTUVWXYZ.
The small Letters.
abcdefghijklmnopq
r s t u v w x y z &.
(
5    )
Easy Syllables for
ab        eb        ib
Children*
ob       ub
ac
ad
af
ec
ed
ef
ic
id
if
oc
od
of
uc
ud
uf
ag
al
eg
ei
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og
ol
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em
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om
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an
en
in
on
un
ap
ar
ep
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ip
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op
or
up
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as
es
is
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us
at
et
it
ot
ut
ax
ba
ex
be
ix
bi
ox
bo
ux
bu
ca
da
fa
ce
de
fe
ci
di
fi
CO
do
fo
cu
dti
fa
ga
ha
ka
la
ge
he
ke
le
g*
hi
ki
li
m
ho
ko
lo
hut
ku
lu
ma
me
mi
mo
mis
na
ne
nj
no
na
 (   6   )
i
pa
ra
sa
ta
Are
Jge
add
all
ape
God
grace
grant
good
grass
grew
heal
how
hide
knit
known
Jaw
lake
look
load
pe
re
se
te
beat
beast
bed
bold
bad
kid
kind
kill    .
kick
kiss
knee
light
laid
made
mold
moon
more
make
wade
wound
Pi
ri
si
ti
po
TO
SO
to
child
clay
cry
cup
ear
gain
goose
hair
hard
nine
no
nose
of
old
once
pence
pinch
part
past
port
pu
ru
su
tu
pen
Peg
pet
P%
pin
rat
red
rib
rim
rip
rob
rod
rot
rub
rum
sat
set
sin
sob
sod
Back chat
bank  chin
bark
barn
bell
belt
chip
chop
clad
clap
bend  clip
best    clod
dart
dash
deck
desk
dish
dock
doll
dull
3
fish
flag
flat
flax
fled
fond
fork
fret
bill
bled
blot
brag
bran
buck
buff
bulk
burn
bush
Cart
cast
club
cock
cork
cost
crab
cram
crop
crum
cuff
curl
curb
clung  frog
dust   from
drag    Gift
drop
drug
drum girl
duck   glad
hand
harsh
harp
held
help
hell
hill
his
huff
hunt
hurl
hurt
hung
Jack
jest
grim jilt
gasp
gird
Fast
fell      grin   jump
felt     gush   just
fill      Haft   Kept
Dark firm   hang   kick
Words of two Syllables.
Ab-sent       Absent Fol-ly
Bold-iy        Boldly For-ty
Con-stant    Constant       Fu-ry
 De-pend
En-close
Fa-ther
Hus-band
Ab-sence
A-corn
Ac-tor
Ac-tress
Ad-der
Ad-vent
Af-ter
A-lum
Al-so
Am-ber
Am-bush
An-gel
A-ny
Ar-bour
Art-ful
Art-ist
Art-less
Back-ward
Ba-ker
Bal-lad
(    8    )
Depend
Enclose
Father
Husband
Blun-der
Bor-der
Bo-som
Bri-er
Brim-stone
Bro-ken
Buf-fet
But-ter
Ca-per
Car-rot
Cart-er
Chaf-finch
Cham-ber
Chan-nel
Chap-man
Chap-ter
Cha-sten
Chat-ter
Ches-nut
Child-ish
Fir-ing
Gal-lop
Gar-den
Gar-ret
Com-fort
Com-ment
Com-merce
Com-mon
Con-cord
Con-duct
Con-quest
Con-serve
Con-sul
Con-test
Con-tract
Con-trite
Con-vent
Con-verse
Con-vert
Cor-ner
Cost-ly
Craf-ty
Cra-zy
Crib-bage
Bank-er
Ban-ter
Bant-ling
Bap-tist
Bar-ber
Bar-rel
Bash'ful
Bet-ter
Bit-ter
Fan-torn
Far-mer
(    9     )
Chil-dren
Chil-ly
Chop-per
Church-man
Ci-der
Cin-der
Clergy
Cof-fm
Col-lect
Gal-lop
Game-some
Cn-er
Cru-el
Crup-per
Cul-ture
Cum-ber
Cut4er
Dar-ling
Di-al
Di-et
Han-dy
liang-er
Words of
A-bu-sing
Be-witch-ing
Con-found-ed
Drunk-en-ness
E-ras-mus
Fa-cul-ty
God-li-nesS
Ho-li-ness
Invpu-dent
Ka4en~dar
three Syllables.
Abusing
Bewitching
Confounded
Drunkenness
Erasmus
Faculty
Godliness
Holiness
Impudent
Kalenda'F
^
 C  10  )
A
■'^^J^^     £ mg wiU bite
i ' €7^,--$    A Tilief at night.
In Adam's Fall
We sinned all.
B
Thy Life to mend
This Book attend.
The Cat doth play,
And after slay,    r
E
An Eagle's flight
^     Is out of sight.
P
The idle Fool
Is whipt at School:
(     11     )
G
As runs the Glass
Man's Life doth pass.
II
My Book and Heart
Shall never part.  ,
Job feels the rod,
Yet blesses God.
K
Kings should be good*.
Not men of blood.
L
The Lion bold
The Lamb doth hold,
M
The Moon gives light
In time of Night.
 (    12    )
W
Nightingales sing*
In time of Spring.
O
The Royal Oak,
It was the Tree
That saved his
Royal Majesty.
P
Peter denies
His Lord, and cries,
Q
Queen Esther cornea,
In royal, state,
To save the Jews
From dismal fate.
R
Rachel doth mourn
For her first-born^
Samuel anoints
Whom God appoints,
( is  i
Time cuts down all,
Both great and ^mstft
U
Uriah's beauteous Wife
Made David seek his life.
W
By Washington'
Great deeds were don,e.
Xerxes the great did dief
And so must you and I.
Youth forward slips,
Death soonest nips.
Z
Zaccheus he
Did climb the tree
His Lp,r4 to, see*
«*
 ■■    , (    14    ) -'
THE DUTIFUL CHILD'S PROMISES,
I Will fear God and honour the authority,
I will honour my father and mother.
I will obey my superiors.
I will submit to my elders.
I will love my friends.
I will hate no man.
I will, as much as in me lies, keep all God's
holy commandments.
I will learn my catechism.
I will keep the Lord's Day holy.
I will reverence God's sanctuary.
I will learn my prayers, and constantly repeat them, like a good child of God.
MORAL PRECEPTS FOR CHILDREN.
SPEAK the truth, and lie not.
Live well, that ye may die welL
Use no ill words.
Ill words breed strife.
Be not proud.
Scorn not the poor.
Give to them that want.
Love to learn your book.
A good boy will be a good man,
DESCRIPTION OF A GOOD BOY,
AGooi) boy is dutiful to his father and
mother, obedient to his master, and
loving to all his play-fellows. He is dili*
gent in learning his book, and takes a plea-
Sure in improving himself in every thing
( 15 )
■■f V-
iat is worthy of praise: he rises early in
the morning, makes himself clean and decent, and says his prayers.    If he has done
a fault, he confesses, and is sorry for it;
and scorns to tell a lie, though he might
by that means conceal it.   He never swears,
or calls names, or uses any ill words to his
companions.   He is never peevish or fretful,
but always cheerful  and   good humoured.
He scorns to steal or pilfer any thing from
his  play-fellows,   and would  rather  suffer
wrong than do wrong to any of them.    He
is always ready to answer when he is asked
a question, do what he is bid, and to mind
what is said to him     He is not a wrangler,
or quarrelsome, and keeps himself out of
all kinds of mischief which other boys run
into, By this means he becomes, as he grows
up, a man of sense  and virtue: he< is-beloved and respected by all who know him ;
he lives in the world with credit and reputation, and when he dies, is lamented by all
his acquaintance.
DESCRIPTION OF A BAD BOY.
4 Bab boy is undutiful to his father and
JLJL mother, disobedient and stubborn to
his master, and ill-natured to all his playfellows He hates his book, and takes no
pleasure in in) proving himst^f in any thing.
He is sleepy, arid slothful  in   tl     morniiig,
too kile to clean himSeJ
fc_ed to
 (    16    )
say his prayers. He is always in mischief,
and when he has done a fault, will tell
twenty lies, in hopes to clear himself, which
is only making bad worse. He hates that
any body should give him good advice, and
when they are out of his sight he will laugh
at them. He swears, wrangles, and quarrels
with his companions. He will steal whatever comes in his way, and if not catched,
thinks it no crime: not considering that
God sees what he does. He is frequently
out of humour, sullen and obstinate, so that
he will neither do what he is bid, nor answer
any question that is asked him. In short,
he neglects every thing that he should learn,
and minds nothing but play or mischief, by
which means he becomes, as he grows up, a
confirmed blockhead, capable of nothing but
wickedness or folly, despised by all men,
and generally dies a beggar.
THE GOOD GIRL.
SO pretty Miss Prudence
You're come to the fair;
And a very good Girl
They tell me you are.
Here take this fine Orange,
This Watch and this Knot.;
You're welcome, my dear,
To all we have got;
For a Girl that is good,
Ary$ so pretty as*you,
( 17 )
Slay have what she please^
Yrour Servant, Miss Prue*
THE NAUGHTY GIRLS..
QO, pert Misses Prate-apace, how cnitfe
K3       you here ?
There's nobody wants to see you at the faii%
Not Oranges, Apples, Cakes, or Nuts,
Will any one give to such saucy sluts.
For such naughty. Girls we here have no room f
You're proud and ill-natured—Go, hussies*
go home.
DUTY TO GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOUR,
OVE God with all your soul and strength;
A    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.
In the burial-place may s,ee
Graves shorter far than I:
om Death's arrest no age is free,
Young children too may die.
God, may such an awful sight
Awakening be to me!
! that by early grace I mi gift
Fc'fr d&ath prepared be;
B
Fr
M
 (    18    |
WAKE, arise, behold thou hast
Thy life a lease, thy breath a blast;
At night lay down, prepare to have
Thy sleep thy death, thy bed thy grave.
OVE good boys, and play with none that
_. A swear or lie, or steal, or use ill words,
or do ill things, for fear you learn their
ways, and be as hud as they.
CHOICE SENTENCES.
I. TJRAYING will make you leave sinning,
JL or sinning will make you leave praying,
2. What we are afraid to speak before me%
we should be afraid to think before Gob.
Duty of Children towards their Parents-.
|^1 OD hath commanded, saying, Honour thj
XJC father and mother : and whoso curseth
fetaer or mother, let him die the death.—
Matt. xv. 4.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord,
for this is right.—Eph. vi. 8.
CRADLE HYMN.    By Dr. Watts.
SM, my dear, lie still and slumber^
Holy angels guard thy bed,
H^v'nly blessings, without number,
Gently falling on thy head.
Sleep, my babe, thy food and raiment,
Mease and home thy friends provide^
( 19 )
And, 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 I
Spotless, fair, divinely bright!
Must he dwell with brutal creatures!
How could angels heap the sight!
Was there nothing but a manger,
Cursed sinners could afford,
To receive the heavenly stranger ?
Did they thus affront the Lord !
Soft, my child, I did not chide thee,
Though my song might sound too h&rU:
^is thy mother sits beside thee,
And her arms shall be thy guard;
Yet to read the shameful story,
How the Jews abused their King-
How they served the Lord of Glory,
Makes me angry wThile I sing.
See the kinder shepherds round hi#*
Telling wonders from the sky;
There they sought him, there they found him,*
With his virgin mother by.
Sse^ the lovely babe a dressing*,
JUgy^ly iut&fnt, how he smHsft I
h &
 t , C %° )
When he wept, his mother's blessing
Soothed and hush'd the holy child,
JLo ! he slumbers in his manger,
Where the horned oxen fed;
Peace, my darling, here's no danger,
Here's no oxen near thy bed.
*Twas to save thee, child, from dying,
Save my dear from burning flame,
Sitter groans and endless crying,
That thy blest Redeemer came.
35fay'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 joy aspire.
NOW I lay me down to sleep,-
I pray the Lord my soul to keej -
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Good Children must
Fear God all day,     Love Christ alway,
Parents obey, In secret pray,
No false thing say,   Mind little play, [good. |
By no sin. stray, '     Make no delay in doing'
(    21    )
«sp* tea     ^v£i'  4
[R John Robgehs, minister of the gos-
L pel in London, was the first martyr in
Queen Mary's reign, and was burnt at Smith-
field, February the 14th, 1554. His wife,
with nine small children, and one at her
breast, followed him to the stake; with
which sorrowful sight he was not in the
least daunted, but with wonderful patience
died courageously for the Gospel, of Jjgsits
Chili pt.
 f
00
<M few days  before his death  he wrote  the
following Advice to his  Children.
£^i IVE ear, my children, to tny words^
fJT Whom God hath dearly bought;
Lay up his laws within your hearts,
And print them in your thought.
1 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,
Enclosed in the dark,
2£ot many days before my death*
Composed this little work :
And for example to your youth,
To whom I wish all good,
1 send you here God's perfect trutla.
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 4s you have been heirs of that
Which once shall wear away,
You also may possess the part,
Which never shall decay.
Keep always God before your eyes5
With all your whole intent*
i     23    )
Commit no sin in any wise,
Keep his commandment.
Abhor that arrant whore of Romes
And all her blasphemies,
And drink not of her cursed cup^
Obey not her decrees,
dive honour to your mother dear5
Remember well her pain;
And recompense her in her ages
With the like love again ;
Be always ready for her help,
And let her not decay;
Bemember well your father all,
Who should have been your staj\ \
Give of your portion to the poor,
As riches doth arise,
And from the needy, naked soiilf
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 were put in trust*
And should relieve the poor.
Beware of foul and filthy lusts,
Let such things have no place,
Keep clean your vessels in the Lobj^
That he may you embrace.
Ife are the temples of the Lobb^
Far you are dearly bought*
 (
24
And they that do defile the same;
Shall surely come to nought.
Be never proud by any means,
Nor build your house too high,
But always have before your eyes,
That we were born to die.
Defraud not him that hired is
Your labour to sustain,
But pay him still without delay,
His wages for his pain:
fcAnd 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 tainting soul^
Of that which you do eat.
Ask counsel always of the wis^,
Give ear unto the end,
And ne'er refuse the sweet rebuke
Of him that is your 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.*
<    25    )
That I may meet you in the heavens^
And see you face to face.
And though the fire my body burn,
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 you see in perfect s.hape
*    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 adjudged P
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 forefather's fall.
But through our Saviour'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 that in him trusty
 (    26    )
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 poors
The force of death must try.
When I am chained to the stake,
And faggots gird 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 prepared to die,
These earthly flames will send my soul
Up to the Lord on high.
Farewell, my children, to the worlds
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 see you all,
When all things have their ends.
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.
Bob grant you so to end your days^
As he shall think it best,
That I may meet you in the heavens*
Wh^re I <Jo hope to r§8%
(    27    }
The Shorter Catechism,
Agreed upon by the Reverend Assembly qjf
Divines at Westminster.
Q. f ¥ HAT is the chief end of Man?
A. Man's chief end is to glorify God and
enjoy him for ever.
Q. What rule hath God given to direct its^
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
*jre may glorify and enjoy him.
Q.  What do the scriptures principally teach ?
A. The scriptures principally teach what
man is to believe concerning God, and what
duty God requires of man.
Q.  What is God?
A. God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and
unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power,
holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
Q  Are there more Gods than one?
A, There is but one only, the living and
true God.
Q. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A. There are three persons in the God-
heac|» the Father, th§ Son,  and the Holjr
 (    28    J
Ghost;  and these three are one God,   the
same in substance, equal in power and glory,
Q.  What are the decrees of God?
A. The decrees of God are his eternal
purpose, according to the counsel of his
will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath
fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass;
Q. How doth God execute Ins decrees ?
A. God executeth his decrees in the works
of creation and providence.
Q.   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.  How did God create JWan ?
A. God created man,   male and female^
after his own image, in knowledge, rightei
ousness and holiness, with   dominion   over
the creatures.
Q.   What are God's works of providence ? \
A. God's works of providence are his!
most holy, wise, and powerful preserving1
and governing all his creatures, and ail their
actions.
Q. What special act of providence did Goi
exercise toward man in the estate wherein he\
was created?
A. When God created man, he entered!
into a covenant with him, upon condition off
perfect obedience, forbidding him to eat of
(    29    )
the tree of knowledge of good and evil,
upon the pain of death.
Q. 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,  What is sin ?
A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or
transgression of the law of God.
Q. What was the sin whereby our first parents
fell from the estate wherein they were created?
J. The sin whereby our first parents fell
from the estate wherein they were created,
was their eating the forbidden fruit.
Q. Did all mankind fall in Adapts first transgression ?
A. The covenant being made with \dam,
not only for himself, but for his posterity,
ail mankind descending from him by ordinary generation, sinnednn him, and fell with
him rn his first transgression.
Q. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind ?
A. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.
Q. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell ?
A. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man felj, consists in the guilt of Adam's
 (    30    )
fifst sin, the want of original righteousness
and the corruption of his whole nature, which
is commonly called original sin, together
with all actual transgressions which proceed
from it.
Q. What is the misei^y of that estate into
which man fM?
A. All mankind, by their fall, lost communion with God, are under his wrath and
curse, and so made liable to all the miseries
of this life, to death itself, and the pains of
hell for ever.
Q. Did God leave all mankind to perish in
the estate of sin and misery ?
A. God having, out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity elected some to ever-'
lasting life, did enter into a covenant of
grace to deliver them out of the estate of
sin and misery, and to bring them into an
estate of salvation by a Redeemer.
Q.   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
continueth to be, both God and man, in two,
distinct natures and one person for ever.
Q. How did Christ, being the Son of God9 b&
some man ?
J. Christ, the Son of God, became man
by taking to himself   a true  body and a
(   si   )
power of the Holy Ghost \n the womb of tm
Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin
Q What offices doth Christ execute as our
Medeemer?
4. Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the
offices of a prophet, of a priest, and Of a
king, both in his estate of humiliation and
exaltation.
Q. How does Christ execute the office of a
prophet ?
A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet in revealing to us, by his wrorcl and
spirit, the will of God for our salvation.
Q. How doth Christ execute the office of <a
priest?
A. Christ executeth the office of a priest,
in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice
to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to
God, and in making continual intercession
for us.
Q. 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. Wherein doth Chris fs humiliation consist £
A. Christ's humiliation consisteth in his
being born, and that in a low condition*
made under the law, undergoing the mise*
ri«s of this life, the wrath of Crod, and th$
&
 c
32    )
cursed death of the cross, in being buried^
and continuing under the power of death for
a time.
Q.  Wherein consisteth Christ's exaltation ?
A.   Christ's  exaltation consisteth   in his
rising ag-ain from the dead on the third day,
in ascending up  into heaven, and sitting at
the right hand of God the  father, and in I
coming to judge the world at the last day.
Q.  How are we made partakers of the re-1
demption 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. 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.  What is effectual calling ?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God's
Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and I
misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he j
doth persuade and enable us to embrace ■ Je« j
sus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel. I
Q. 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 justlficirti'On,. adaption.
(    33    )
and sanctification, and the several benefits
which in this life do either accompany or
flow from them. ,
Q. 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 sights
only for the righteousness of Christ, imput»
ed to us, and received by faith alone.
Q.  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.  What is sanctification?
A. Sanctification is the work of God's
Spirit, whereby we are renewed in the whole
man, after the image of God, and are en*
abled more and more to die unto sin and live
unto righteousness.
Q. What are the bei&fits which, in this life$
do accompany or flow from justification, adop*
Hon, and sanctification?
A. The benefits which, in this life, do accompany or flow from justification, adoption*
and sanctification, are assurances of God'sr
love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy
Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance
therein to the end.
Q. What benefits do believers receive from
(v:ki at their death?
G
c
 C    34    ) I
A, The souls of believers are, at their
death, made pei'fect in holiness, and do immediately p^ass into glory; their bodies being
still united to phrist, do rest in their graves
till the resurrection.
Q. What benefit do believers receive from
Christ est the resurrection ?
A. At the resurrection, believers baing
raised up in 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. What is the duty which God requires oj1
pan?
A. The duty which God requires of man,
is obedience to his revealed will.
Q. What did God at first reveal to man fori
the rule of his obedience ?
A. The rule which God at first revealed;
to man for his obedience was the moral law.|
Q. Wherein is the moral law summarily com-
prehended ?
A. The moral/law is summarily compre4
tended in the ten commandments.
Q Which is the sum &fi 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, aiid our neighbour $$\
OlUSelves.
i   ss   )
Q. What is the preface fa the ten command*
ments ?
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. 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.  What is the first commandment ?
A, The first commandment is, "Thoushalt
have no other Gods before me."
Q. 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. What is forbidden in the first commandment ?
A, The first commandment forbiddeth the
denying, and not worshipping and glorifying
the true God as God, and our God; and the
giving pf that worship and glory to any other
which is due to him alone.
Q. What are we especially taught by thesr,
words (before me) in the first commandment ?
a:. These words (before me J in the'first:
C2
I
■L
 (
36
tommandment, teacheth us that God, whfc
seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is
Kuich displeased with the sin of having any
other God.
% Which is the second commandment ?
A. The second commandment is, " Tho\i
shalt not make unto thee any graven image,
or the likeness of any thing that is in the
heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath,
or that is in the waters under the earth;
thou s lalt 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 me5
asid showing mercy unto thousands of them
that Igve me and keep my commandments."
Q. What fa required in the second commandment ?
A. The second commandment requireth
the receiving, observing, and keeping pure
and entire all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his word.
Q. What is forbidden in the second com™
mandment?
A. The second commandment forbiddeth
the worshipping of God by images, or by
any other w^y not appointed in his word.
Q. What are the reasons cmnexed to the
second commandment ?
\ jl The r$a§pas Inn^xesi to the swoad ^gtt*
(    37    )
mandmeftt are God's sovereignty oyer us*
his property in us, and the zeal he hath i$f
his own worship.
Q.  Which is the third commandment ?
A. The third commandment is, (S Thou
shalt n9t take the name of the Lord thy God
in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guilt*
less that taketh his name in vain."
Q. What is required in the third command?
ment ?
A. The third commandment requireth the
holy and reverent use of God's names, titles,
attributes, ordinances, word, and works
Q. What is forbidden in the third cofitnand**
ment ?
A. The third commandment forbiddeth
all profaning or abusing any thing whereby
God maketh himself known.
Q. What is the reason annexed to the third
commandment ?
.J. The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that however the breakers of
this commandment may escape punishment
from men, yet the Lord gur God will not
suffer them to escape his righteous judg-
ment.
Q.  Which is the fourth commandment ?
A. The fourth commandment is, u Re»
member the Sabbath day to keep it holy;
sis days shalt thou labour and do all thy
work, but the ^seventh day is the sabbath of
the Lord thy God^ in it thou shalt not da
j.
 c
38
my work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daugtt*
tert 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 seventh day, and
hallowed it."
Q. What is required in the fourth commandment ?
A. The fourth commandment requireth
the keeping holy to God such set times as
he Jbath appointed in hi$ word, expressly
one whole day in seven, to be an holy sabbath to himself.
Q, 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 tfye week to be the weekly
sabbath; and the fiffct day of the week ever
since, to continue to the end of the world,
which is the Christian sabbath.
Q. How is the sabbath to be sanctified ?
A. The sabbath i§ to be sanctified by a
holy resting all that day, even from such
worldly employments and recreations as are
lawful on other days, and spending the
whole time in the public and private exet*
cises of God's worship, except so much as
is to be taken up in works of necessity and?
mercy.
(    39    )
Q. What is forbidden in the fourth cim%*
mandment?
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 by unnecessary thoughts, words,
dr works, about worldly employments and
recreations.
Q. What are the reasons annexed to tike
fourth commandment ?
A. The reasons annexed to the fourth
commandment are, God's allowing us six
days in the week for our own employment;
his challenging a special property in the
seventh, his own example, and his blessing
the sabbath day.
Q.  Which is the fifth commandment ?
A. The fifth commandment is, u Honour
thy father and thy mother, that thy days
may be long upon the land which the Lord
thy God giveth thee."
Q. What is required in the fifth commandment ?
A. The fifth commandment requireth the
preserving the honour, and performing the
duties belonging to every one in their seve«-
ral places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.
Q; What is forbidden in the fifth command*
, ment ?
M The fifth commandment forbiddeth the
 (    40    )
iieglecting1 of, or doing any thing against-the
honour or duty which belongeth to every one
in their several places and relations.
Q. What is the reason annexed to the fifth
Commandment ?
A. The reason annexed to the fifth com-
ffiandment, is a promise of long life and
prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God's
glory and weir own ' good) to all such as,
Jkeep tnis-'commandment.
Q. 'Which is the sixth commandment ?
A. The sixth commandment is, u =Thot&.
Sfealt not kill."
Q. What is required in ike sixth command*
%ent ?
A. The sixth commandment requireth all
lawful endeavours to' preserve our own life
and the life of others.
Q. What is forbidden in the mgcih oortfr
Mandment 9
Ar The sixth* commandment forbiddeth
taking away of our own life, or the life
<of our neighbour unjustly; or whatsoever
tendeth thereunto.
Q. Which is the seventh commandment ?
JL The seventh commandment is, '* Thorn-
slialt not commit adultery."
Q. What is required in the seventh torn*
mandment?-
A.Tim seventh commandment requireth the
preservation of our own, and our neighbour's
chastity, in hearty speech, and behaviour^
{   4i   ) , :
Q.   T'fliai is-forbidden in the seventh Cbftfy
mandment ?
A. The seventh commandment forbiddeth
all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions.
Q,  Which is the eighth commandment ?
A. The eighth commandment is, " Thou
shalt not steal."
Q   What is required in the eighth command*
Ment. ?
A. The eighth commandment requireth
the lawful' procuring and furthering the
wealth and outward estate of ourselves and
others.
Q. : What is forbidden in' the eighth eoa>
mandment?
A. The eighth commandment forbiddeth
whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder our
own or our neighbour's wealth or outward
estate.
Q.. Which is the ninth commandment ?
.A*   The ninth, commandment is, u Thotl •
shalt  not  bear  false  witness   against ' thy
neighbour."
Q. What is required in the ninth emnmar.
ment ?
A. The ninth commandment requireth the
maintaining and promoting of truth between
man and man, and^pf our own and our neigh*
hour's good name, especially in witness bear*
m|.
Q. What h forbidden in the ninth cmmmml*
ggent f
 (    42    )
A. The ninth commandment fbrbiddeth
whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to dur own and our neighbour's good
name.
Q.  Which is the tenth Commandment ?
A. The tenth commandment 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. What is required in the tenth cofivmand*
ment ?
A. The tenth commandment requireth full
contentment with our own condition, with a
right and charitable frame of spirit toward
our neighbour, and all that is his.
Q. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment ?
A. The tenth commandment forbiddeth
all discontentment with our own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour, and all inordinate emotions and affections to anv tiling that is his.
Q. Is any man able perfectly to keep the
commandments of God?
A. No mere man, since the fall, is ablef
in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in
thought, word, and deed
Q, Are all transgressions of ilw law eqnalUj
heinom ?
.{    43     )
I
A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason
of several aggravations, are more heinous in
the sight of God than others.
Q.  What doth every sin deserve ?
A. Every sin deserves God's wrath and
cjirse, both in this life and that which is to
come.
Q. What doth God require of us that w&
may escape his wrath and curse, 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 a
diligent use of all the outward means where-
by Christ communicateth to us the benefits
of redemption.
Q.  What is faith ifi Jesus Christ ?
J    A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace,
whereby we receive and rest upon him alone
for salvation, as he is offered to us in the
gospel.
Q.  What is repentance unto life ?
A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace,
whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his
sin, and apprehension of the mercy af God
in Christ, doth with grief and hatred of his
sin, turn from it untcTood, with full purpose
of and endeavours after new obedience.
Q,. What are the outward means whereby
Christ communicateth  to  us   the  benefits   of
redemption ?.
A. The outward and ordinary means where*
 (    44    J
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. How is the word made effectual to salva^
tion ? ;J
A. The spirit of God maketh the reading,!
but especially the preaching of the word, an
effectual mean of convincing and converting
sinners, and of building them up in holiness
and comfort through faith unto salvation.
Qi-How 19 the word to be read and, hearc\
that it may become effectual unto salvation ?
A. That the word may become effectual i
to salvation, we must attend thereunto with ^
diligence, preparation, and prayer, receive it
with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts,
and practise it in our liyes.
Q. How do the sacraments becmne 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 j
by the blessing of Christ, and the working I
of his spirit in them that by faith receive
there..
' Q. What is a sacrament ?
A. A safer amen t is an holy ordinance,/ instituted by Christ, wherein, by sensible
signs, Christ ^nd the benefits of the new*
covenant are 'represented*, sealed, and a]&
plied to believer,0
L&9
I
\
Q. What are the sacraments of tlw JVfew
Testament ?
A.~ The sacraments of the New Testament
are baptism and the Lord's supper.
Q.  What is baptism ?
A* Baptism is a sacrament wherein, by
washing with water in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost, doth signify and seal our engrafting
into Christ, and partaking of the benefits
of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord's.
Q. To vjhom is baptism to be administered ?
A. Baptism is not to be administered to
any .that are out of the visible church, till
they profess their faith in Christ, and obe^
dience to him ; but the infants of such as are
members of the visible church are to be
baptised.
Q. 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 showed forth, and the worthy receivers are, not after a dorporal and carnal
manner, but by faith, made partakers of his
body and bloody with all his benefits to their
spiritual nourishment and growth in grace.,
Q. What is required in the worthy receiving
of the Lord's supper ?
A. It is required of them that would worthily partake af the Lord's supper, that they
.,
 (   46    )
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.   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, and thankful acknowledgment of his
tnercies.
Q. What rule hath God givqn 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. What doth the preface of the Lord's
prayer teach us ?
A,   The   preface  to   the   Lord's  prayer,
which is,   Our Father,  who art in Heaven,
teaches 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. What do we pray for in the first petition ?
A, In the first petition, wrhich is, Hallowed
be thy name, we pray that God would enable j
us and others to glorify him in all things
whereby h§ rn^kgt^ himself known;  and
(    47    )
that he would* dispose of all things to his
own glory.
Q. What do we pray for in the second pe<*
tiiiO'U ?
A. In the second petition, which is, Thy
kingdom come, wre pray that Satan's kingdom
may be destroyed, and that the kingdom of
grace may be advanced, ourselves and others
brought into it, and kept in it, and that the
kingdom of glory may be hastened.
Q. What do we pray for in the third petition ?
A. In the third petition, which is, Thy
will he 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. What do we pray for in the fourth petition ?
A. In the fourth petition, which is, Give
ps 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. 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^ b§c*mse by hif
-
 Wh,
Q.  ? ? HAT is your name ?
A. M or M.
«9h Who gave you this i\ame I
{    48    j
grace we are enabled, from the heart, i®
forgive others.
Q. What do we pray for in the sixth pe~
iiiion ?
A. In the sixth petition, which is, And
lead us not into temptation, hut 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. What doth the conclusion of the Lord's
prayer teach us R    <y
A* The conclusion of the Lord's prayer,
which is, For thine is the kingdom, and thet
power, and the glory, for ever, Amen, teach*
eth 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 desires, and
assurance to be heard, we say, Amen
A Catechism;
THAT IS TO SAY,
An Instruction, to be learned by every person before lie be brought to be confirmed
by the Bishop.
' f   49    )
A. My Sponsors in Baptism; wiierein I
was made a member of Christ, the child of
God, and an inheritor of the Kingdom of
Heaven.
Q. What did your Sponsors then for you %
A. They did promise and ve w three things
in my name: First, that I should renounce
the devil and all his works, the pomps and
vanity of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh: Secondly, that I should
believe all the Articles of the Christian Faiths
And, thirdly, that I should keep God's holy
will and commandments, aud walk in the
&ame all the days of my life.
Q, Dost thou not think that thou art bound
to believe, and to do, as they have promised
for thee ?
A. Yes, verily; and by God's help so I
will. And I heartily thank our heavenly
Father, that he hath called me to this state
of salvation, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. And I pray unto God to give me his
grace, that I may continue in the same unto
my life's eud.
Catechist. Rehearse the Articles of thy
Uelief.
A. T BELIEVE in God the Father Af-
I
mighty, Maker of heaven and earth :
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord ;
-who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born
~ the Virgin Mary, suffered under Poatitrs
I>
of
 1
so
I
5i   >
dilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he
descended fnto Hell; the third day he ros^
from the dead ; he ascended into heaven, and
sitteth on the right hand of God the Father
Almighty; from thence he shall come to
judge 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 everlasting.    Amen.
Q. What dost thou chiefly learn in these
Articles of thy Relief ?
A, First, I learn to believe in God the
Father, who hath made me and all the
world.
Secondly, in God the Son, who hath redeemed me and all mankind.
Thirdly, in God the Hoty Ghost, who
sanctifieth me and all the people of God.
Q, You said that your Sponsors did pro*
mise for you, that you should keep God's
commandments. Tell me how many there are.
A. Ten.
Q. Which are they ?
A. f|HHE same which God spake in the
JL  twentieth chapter of Exodus, say*
ing, I am the Lord thy God, who brought
thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the
house of bondage.
I. Thou shalt have none other gods but m&
U? Thou shjdt not m:\ke to thyself any
graven image, nar the likeness of any thing
that is in heaven above, or iu the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Thou
shalt not bow down to them, nar worship
them, for I the Lord thy God am a jealous
Sod, and visit the sins of the fathers upon
the children, unto the third anfd fourth generation of them that hatg me, and show
tnerc'y unto thousands in them that love me
and keep my commandments.
III. Thou shalt not take the name of the
Lord thy God in vain : For the Lord will
not hold him guiltless that taketh his name
in vain.
IV. Remember that thou, keep holy the
Sabbath day. Six days sha^t thou labour
and do all that thou hast to do; but the
seventh day is Uie Sabbath of the Lord thy
<8od: In it thou shalt do no manner of
work, thou ancLtby son, and thy daughter,
thy man servant, and thy maid servant, thy
cattle, and the stranger that is within thy
gates : For in six days the Lord made hea|
Yen and earth, the sea, and all that in them
is, and rested the seventh day: Wherefore
the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it.
V. Honour thy father and thy mother, that
thy days may be long in the land which ih%-
JLord thy God giveth thee.
tT, Thou shalt do no murder-
»2
 f
52
)
¥11. Thou shalt not commit adultery,
VIII. Thou shalt not steal.
IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbour.
1. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's
house ; thou shalt not covet thy neighboYirs
wife, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor his
ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his.
Q. What dosJt thou chiefly learn by these
commandments ?
A. I learn two things, my duty towards
God, and my duty towards my neighbour.
Q. What is thy duty towards God ?
I A. My duty towards God, is to believe in
him, to fear him, and to love him with all
my heart, with all my mind, with all my
apul, and with all my strength ; to worship
him, to give him thanks, to put my whole
trust in him, to call upon him, to honour
his holy Name, and his Word, and to serve
him truly ail the days of my life.
Q. What, is thy duty towards thy neighbour- ?
A. My duty towards my neighbour, is to
love him as myself, and to do to all men as
I would thev should do unto me : to love,
honour, and succour my father and mother g
to honour and obey the civil authority : to
submit myself to all my governors, teachers,
spiritual pastors, and masters:' to order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters :
(
53
)
to hurt no body by word or deed : to be
true and just in all my dealings: to bear no
malice nor hatred in my heart: to keep my
hands from picking and stealing, and my
tongue from evil speaking, lying, and slandering' : to keep my body in temperance,
soberness, and chastity: not to covet nor
desire other men's goods ; but to learn and
labour truly to get mine own living, and to
do my duty in that state of life unto which
it shall please God to call me.
Catecliist. My good child, know this, that
thou art not able to do these things of thyself, nor to walk in the commandments of
God, and to serve him, without his special
grace, which thou must learn at all times t#
call for by diligent prayer; let me hear,
therefore, ' if tlioit canst say the Lord's*
Prayer.
A. ^|UR Father, who art in Heaven,
\3 hallowed be thy Narkie ; thy kingdom corne; thy will be done on earth, as it
is in heaven ; give us this day our daily
bread *, and forgive us our trespasses, as w<*
forgive those who trespass against us ; and
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us"
from evil.    Amen.
Q, What desirest thou of God in this
prayer ? » ':
A.  I desire my Lord God, our heavenly
Father, who is the giver of all goodness, to
/gend his grace unto me ami to all £>eople j
 (
%4*
that wo may worship him. serve him, una,
obey him, as we ought to do. And I pray
rinto God. that he will send us all things
that are needful both for our souls and bo*
dies; and that he will be merciful unto un5
and forgive us our sins ; and that it will
please him to save and defend us in ail dangers, both of soul and body ; and that he
will keep us from all sin and wickedness,
and from our spiritual enemy, and from
everlasting death. And this I trust he will
do of his mercy and goodness, through our
Lord Jesus Christ; and therefore I say,
Amen.    So be it.
Q. TJTGW many Sacraments hath Christ
JUL ordained in his church ?
A.   Two only, as generally necessary fo
salvation ; that is to say, Baptism, and the
supper of the Lord.
Q. What meanest thou by the word Sacrament ?
A. I mean an outward and visible sign of
&n inward and spiritual grace given unto
us 5 ordained by Christ himself; as a means
whereby we receive the same, and a pledgee
to assure us thereof.
Q. How many parts are there in a Sacrament ?
A.   Two; the outward visible  sign, and
the inward spiritual grace.
Q. What is the outward visible sign ot
form in Baptism ?
C    55    )
A. Water ; wherein the person is baptised,
tn the 'Name of the Father, and of the Sonf
and of the Holy Ghost.
Q. What is the inward and spiritual grace!
A. A death unto sin, and a new birth unto
righteousness : For being by nature born in.
ein, and th,e children of wrath, we are here-
by made the children of grace.
Q. What is required of persons to be b&p*
tised ?
A. Repentance, whereby they forsake sin;
and faith, whereby they stedfastly believe
the promises of God made to them in that
Sacrament,
J| Q. Why then are infants baptised, when
' by reason of their tender age they cannot
perform them I
A. Because they promise them both by
their sureties;   which promise when they
come to age, themselves are bound to perform.
Q. Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's
Supper ordained ?
A. For the continual remembrance of the
sacrifice of the death of Christ, and of the
henefits which we receive thereby.
Q, What is the outward part, or sign of
the Lord's Supper ?
A Bread and Wine, which the Lord hath
commanded to be received.
Q. What is the yjward part, or thing signified I
v_
i
 (    38    )
A.- The Body and Blood of Christ, which
af© spiritually taken and received by the
iaithfulin the Lord's Supper.
Q. What are the benefits whereof w6 are
partakers thereby ?
A. The strengthening and refreshing of
our souls by the Body and Blood of Christ,
as our bodies are by the bread and wine.
Q. What is required of those who come
tg> the Lord's Supper ?
A. To examine themselves, whether they
repent them truly of their former sins, sted-
fastly purposing" to lead a new life ; have a
lively faith in God's mercy through Christ,
with a'thankful remembrance of his death,
and be in charity with all men.   •
A Dialogue
BETWEEN
CHRIST, YOUTH, AjYD THE DEVIL,
YOUTH.
THOSE days which God to me doth send^
In pleasure I'm resolved to spend;
Like as the birds, in lovely spring,
Sit chirping on the boughs 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 timg i
*f       %
f 5i
Sorrow and grief Til put away.
Such things agree not with my day :
From clouds my morning shall be free,
And naught on earth shall trouble me,3
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. ■    i
The resolution which you take,
Sweet youth, it doth me merry mak&,
If thou my counsel wilt embrace,
And shun the ways of truth and gragef
And learn to lie, to curse, and swear.
And be as proud as any are;
Aftd with thy brothers will fall out,
And sisters with vite language flout %
Yea, fight and scratch, and also bite^
Then in thee I will take delight.
If thou wilt but be ruled by me,
An artist thou shalt quickly be,
In all my ways, which lovely are*,
There's 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,
Then thou shalt be a child for me.
When others read, be thou at play,
Think not on God, nor mind to pray;
Nor be thou such a silly fool,
To mind thy book or go to school»
 (    58    )
Bttt play the truant: fear not, I
Will straightway help thee to a lie,
Which will excuse thee for th$ same,
From being whip'd, and from all blam^
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 shall not bow ;
I won't submit at all to them,
But all good counsel will contemn;;
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 ?
Cursed sinful ways wilt thou embrace,
And hate the ways of truth and erace ?
Wilt thou to me a rebel prove,
And from thy parents quite remove
Thy heart also ] then shalt thou see,
What will ere long* become of thee.
Come think on God, who did thee make.
And at his presence dread and quake ;k
Remember him now in thy youth,
A pjcI let thy soul take hold of /truth;
The Devil and his ways defy,
"eve not liim^ he doth but lie \
i
m
)
ills ways seem sweet, but, youth, baw&i^
He for your soul hath laid a snare.
His sweet will into bitter turn,
If in those ways thou still wilt run,
1 He wilt thee into pieces tear,
L Like lions which most hungry are.
Grant me thy heart, thy folly leave,
And from this lion I'll thee save;
And thou siialt have sweet joy from mei
Which will last to eternity.
YOUTH.
My heart shall cheer me in my youth':
, ril have my frolic*; in good truth;
2 Whate'cr 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's 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,
Ho more good days then should 1 have.
CHRIST.
Wouldst thou live lone1, and r^ood dai
Retrain from all iniquity:
True good alone doth from me flow,
It can't be had in things below.
Are not my ways, O youth, for thee ?
Then thou shalt never happy be;
7& &e€ft
 <t
(    60    J
Nor ever shall thy soul obtain
True good, while thou dost 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 go6d to set or place m^ mind
On ways whence many sorrows 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 i
Thy heart in sin shajU hardened be,
And blinded in in-kmitv :
And then in wrath I'll fcut thee down,
Like to 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 shalt come also ;
In hell at last thy soul must burn,
When thou thy sinful race hast run.
Consider this, think On thy end,
Lest Gad do thee in pieces rend.
YOUTH.
Amazed, Lord, I now begin!
Q help me, ■ and I'll leave my sin j
(   61   >
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 theer
DEVIL.
Nay, foolish youth, don't change thymine^
Unto such thoughts be not inclined :
Come, cheer thy heart, rouse up, be gtacf.
There is no hell; why art thou sad ?
Eat, drink, be merry with thy friend.
Far when thou diest that's thy end.
YOUTH.
A    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 I ere long shall win the field;
That there's a heaven I can't donV,
j^Yrea, and a hell of misery : j
That heaven is a lovely place
I can't deny, 'tis a clear case ;
And easy 'tis for to come there,
Therefore take thou no further care:
All human la^s do thou observe,
And from old customs never swerve-*
Do not oppose what great men say,
And thou shalt never go astray.
 (    62    )
Thou inay'st be drunk, and swear, and cgrg^>
And sinners like thee ne'er the wTorse;
At any time thou piay'st repent,
'Twill serve when all thy days are spent
CHRIST.
Take heed, or else thou art undone,
These thoughts are from the wicked gmt
Narrow's the way which leads to life,
Who walk therein do meet with strife;
Few sh'-ill be saved, young man, know.
Most do unto destruction go.
If righteous ones scarce saved be,
What will at last become of thee |
O ! don't reject my precious call.
Lest suddenly to hell thou fail;
Unless thou soon converted be,
God's kingdom thou shah never s^
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 with me abide. £
Moreover, this I also know,
Thou canst at last great mercy show;
When I am old, and pleasure's gone,
Then what thou say'st I'll think upon.
CHRIST.
Nay, hold, vain youth, thy time is shorty
1 |*ys thy torttrtli, I'M m<l tfty 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 spiorts shall have an encL
YOUTH.
I ai*i too young, alas ! to die,
Let Death some old grey head espy*;
0 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 thou would'st not hear*
But didst to me turn a deaf ear;
And now in thy calamity, Y
1 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 pain did bea&.
My mercy thou didst much abuse,
And ail good counsel didst refuse,
Justice will, therefore, vengeance takU3
And thee a sad example ma&e.
YOUTH.
O spare me, Lord, forbear thy hand.
Don't cut me off, who trembling stand>
Begging for mercy at thy door.
0 let nie have but one year more*
 f
64
CHRIST.
if thou some longer time shouldst have*
Thou wouldst again to folly cleave;
Therefore to thee I will not give
One ciay on earth longer to live.
DEATH.
Youth, I am come to fetch thy breath;
And take thee to the shades of death,
No pity on thee cixn I show,
Thou hast 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 bej
With Devils, to eternity.
THE CONCLUSION.
Thus end the days of sinful 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 hel'L
Under eternal wrath to dwell.
Many don't live out half their days*
pvn* cleaving unto sinful Ways,