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This our excellent fhort Catechifm bath been the fruitful Subject of many profitable Expofitions; and for ought I fee, it is ftill capable of more; there being Failings in good Books, as well as in good Men: And I must profefs, that of all our explicatory Catechisms, for the Ufe of Children and Families, I know not any that I have feen without fome notable Defect. As to inftance in fome Particulars, the nature of Saving Baptifm is either grossly mistaken, or not fufficiently explained in them. The like may be said alfo concerning the Lord's Supper. The Doctrine of original Sin is almost wholly prefermitted: And the Attri butes of God, whereby his Nature is defcribed, are feldom or never mentioned in their right Order. And I hope that in these, and other material Points, this following Expofition may be a Supplement to others. I have followed the Reapers, and gathered up fome things that others have let flip.

But that which is moft peculiar to this following Effay, is the Method and Manner of it. For, firft I have here divided, and methodized this our Catechifm by Chapters and Sections, under their several Heads and Titles. And then my Manner of explaining them, is both Pofitive and Catechetical i. c. both in continued and interlocutory Difcourfes. In the former of which is fhewed the Compofure of its Materials, as when a Watch is put together, and we fee the Syftem of it: And in the latter, the Materials or fubject Matters of its Compofure; as when a Watch is took to pieces, and we fee them feverally by themfelvės.

In thefe Catechetical or Interlocutory Difcourfes, 1 have comprized my Inftruction chiefly in the Interrogative Part or Questions: And the Answers to thofe Queftions are made only by Yes or No; with appofite Proofs from Scripture, applied to thofe Anjwers. And the Ca

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techist may repeat them properly, whenever the Learner cannot, and go on with his Catechizing without a Baulk or Interruption. And the Dialogues are all concluded with fome practical Application.

In this plain Method, and after this familiar Manner, this Excellent useful and difficult Work of Catechizing may be managed with great Facility both in Schools and in Families. And it highly concerns those that have the Government and Charge of either, to promote and praEtice it in their respective Province's. He that provides only things neceffary for the Body, but neglects the immortal Souls of those of his House or Family, is certainly a most unfaithful, injurious and cruel Houfhalder. And he is not worthy of the Name of a Chriftian SchoolMafter, who maketh it not his chief Business, to teach his Scholars the Knowledge of Jefus Christ and Everlasting Life.

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READER, Thou art here defired to excuse and rectify fuch Mifpointings and other Errors as have. feaped in the Margin, and in the Body of this Book.

In the Margin.

Pag. 22. for fpecial Subject, read (fpecial Subjects). P. 58. at 1. 15. blot out (he). P. 67. about 1. 5. add ( our Obligations to the Baptifmal Duties). P. 268. at lin. 4. add (in fpecial). P. 248. at I. 29. add (the first Petition). P. 250. at 1. 1. add (The fecond Petition). P. 256. at 1. 14 add (The fifth Petition). From p. 159. to 236. read over the page for Faith, Obedience. From p. 236. to 263. read over the page, for Faith, Prayer. From p. 263. to 287. over the page for Faith (Sacraments). P. 275. about lin. 2. add (Baptism what).

In the Body of the Book.

Pag. 71. 1. 10. for Proparents read Proprietors. P. 158. 1.5. for Nations read Manfions. P. 170. 1. 7. fupply (A. Yes). P. 175. 1. 5. for then read (thou). Lin. 8. for is, read (feeth), P. 181. 1. 28. for his, read (this). P. 184. 1. 17. dele by. P. 191. 1. 22. for, it is, read (at). P.195. 1. 11. read (from the Morning of

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O intimate the Design and Ufe of this Treatife, it is entitled, An INSTRUCTION, to be learned of every one, before he be brought to be confirmed by the Bishop, i. e. an Inftruction in the Baptifmal Covenant; that fuch as in their Infancy were engaged therein by others, might afterwards approve of, and confirm it in their own Perfons, in a serious A

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and folemn Manner, before the Church or Congregation; and the Bishop being present to this End or Purpofe, he lays his Hands upon them, prays over them, and bleffeth them. This is Confirmation. And the Catechifm is an Inftruction fuited to this End. And that the Principles and Points of Doctrine contained in this Inftruction, may be the better understood, and more easily recall'd to Mind, I fhall endeavour to draw them forth into an orderly Scheme or Method; and then I fhall add also an Explanation of them.

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