The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

4 And here we must take with us a double proviso, that we shall remain before God his judgement seat without excuse, if that we seek not the knowledge of God, being brought into so short a compendium, in such and so perspicuous a method delivered. Secondly, we must know, that our sins are not to make us careless or unregarding of any¹ more perfect instruction, seeing this catechizing was instituted but for an easy entrance only, and not to perfect us in knowledge. 2. Pet. 3. 18. 1. Cor. 14. 20. Ephe. 4. 13. Heb. 5. 1•. 13. Catechizing is milk, more exact knowledge is strong meat. Catechizing is the ford wherein a lamb may wade; more exact knowledge is the gulf, wherein an Elephant may swim. Both these are in the Scriptures, concerning which Christ hath said, Search the Scriptures. As for evidence in catechizing before the flood, Cain and Abel's sacrificing is a sign, which seeing there was no word written, is judged of their father to be taught them: and therefore they reason probably, that say, without this catechizing, the word of God could not have continued. After the flood some say, they had the like exercise, which afterwards,² as the learned think, was put in writing, and called the books of Sibyl▪ which were nothing else but traditions. i. things by word of mouth delivered and taught. In Abraham's time, Gen. 18 God saith, he knoweth that Abraham will be careful to teach his family, and for that cause will vouchsafe him extraordinary favour. If it be demanded, what he taught, Gen. 17. 2. there is the sum of the law: Gen. 18▪ 18. there is also the abridgement of the Gospel? In thy seed shall all nations be blessed. The fruit of Abraham's catechizing, his son went out to pray,