The catechizing of families a teacher of householders how to teach their householdsThe catechizing of families a teacher of housholders how to teach their housholds

A. Our Redemption and Reconciliation by Christ, and to the Regenerate, our Regeneration by the Holy Ghost, and so our Adoption; by all which, of Enemies and the Heirs of Hell, we are made the Sons of God, and Heirs of Heaven. It is by Christ and his Spirit that we are the Children of God.

Q. 12. Why say we Our Father, and not My Father?

A. 1. To signify that all Christians must pray as Members of One Body, and look for all their good, comfort and blessedness in Union with the whole, and not as in a separate State: Nor must we come to God with selfish narrow Minds, as thinking only of our own case and good, nor put up any Prayer or Praise to God, but as Members of the Universal Church, in one Chore, all seen and heard at once by God, though they see not, and hear not one another: And therefore that we must abhor the pregnant comprehensive Sin of selfishness; by which wicked Men care only for ⟨p. 181⟩themselves, and are affected with little but their Personal concerns, as if they were all the World to themselves, insensible of the Worlds or the Churches State, and how it goeth with all others. 2. And therefore that all Christians must love their Brethren and Neighbours as themselves, and must abhor the Sin of Schism, much more of Malignant Enmity, Envy, and Persecution, and must be so far from disowning the Prayers of other Christians on pretence of their various Circumstances and Imperfections, and from separating in Heart from them on any account for which God will not reject them; as that they must never put up a Prayer or Praise, but as in concord with all the Christians on Earth, desiring a part in the Prayers of all, and offering up hearty Prayers for all: The imperfections of all Mens Prayers we must disown, and most our own; but not for that disown their Prayers, nor our own. They that hate, or persecute, or separate from Gods Children, for not praying in their Mode, or by their Book, or in the Words that they write down for them, or for not worshipping God with their Forms, Ceremonies or Rites, or that silence Christ's Ministers, and scatter the Flocks, and confound Kingdoms, that they may be Lords of Gods Heritage, and have all Men sing in their Commanded Tune, or Worship God in their unnecessary Commanded Mode, do condemn themselves, when they say Our Father: And to repeat the Lords Prayer many times in their Liturgy, while they are tormenting his Children in their Prisons and Inquisitions, is to worship God by repeating their own Condemnation.