A31334:160
Catechistical guide to sinners, and to such converts that are babes in Christ wherein…
Catechistical guide to sinners, and to such converts that are babes in Christ wherein all the necessary points of religion are methodically proposed in Scripture-language, abundantly confirmed by the Holy Scriptures, and in some places concisely expounded : in the whole, all controversies are warily shunned, so that all true Christians, of what persuasion soever, may (if they need the help of others) use this catechism for their children, or others that are under their power and card / written upon request, by a lover of truth and peace.Catechistical guide to sinners, and to such converts that are babes in Christ wherein all the necessary points of religion are methodically proposed in Scripture-language, abundantly confirmed by the Holy Scriptures, and in some places concisely expounded : in the whole, all controversies are warily shunn'd, so that all true Christians, of what persuassion soever, may (if they need the help of others) use this catechism for their children, or others that are under their power and card / written upon request, by a lover of truth and peace.
London: printed by J.D., 1680
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To what the Woman of Samaria said, vers. 20. Our Fathers worshipped in this Mountain, and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where Men ought to worship. To this, I say, our Saviour replies in vers. 21, 22, 23, 24. In this reply we have both a prophetical and doctrinal discovery. For in vers. 21. he foretells the destruction of both Temples, that in Jerusalem, and that also in Samaria, and the removal of the Jews and Samaritans out of their own Countries: So that they should not worship in the places about which they contended, what mind soever they might have thereunto. Woman, saith our Saviour, believe me, the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this Mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. In the next place our Saviour teacheth the Woman divers things of no mean importance. For in respect of former times, and the time present he informs her, that in the Controversy now mentioned, the Jews had Truth on their side, and the Samaritans were in a wrong Opinion, and that not only in respect of the place of Worship, but also in the manner of worshipping. This Jesus asserteth ⟨p. 47⟩thus, vers. 22. Ye worship ye know not what; or, ye know not after what manner ye worship; that is, ye Samaritans have no good reason or ground for your way of worshipping, but we Jews know after what manner we worship, having a good ground for worshipping at Jerusalem, by offering Sacrifices there, and for the way of worshipping. Then our Saviour thus confirmeth it: for Salvation is of the Jews; that is, the Doctrine teaching Men so to worship God as to please him, and obtain Salvation, is from Prophets that are of the Jewish Nation. In vers. 23, 24. our Saviour informs the Woman, as to the future time, which was now at hand, these two things.
1. That there must be a new kind of Worshippers, whom he calls True Worshippers, because typified by, and more excellent than legal Worshippers; and a new way of worshipping, to wit, in Spirit and Truth; that is to say, in such a manner as is different from the legal way, and was typified by it, and which therefore is more excellent. This Worship the Doctrine of the New Covenant teacheth: for this Doctrine abrogates the legal Form, and does introduce that Worship, which the legal Worship was a type and shadow of. This new Covenant Doctrine is upon this account