A53735:17
Dr. John Owen's two short catechisms wherein the principles of the doctrine of Christ…Dr. John Owen's two short catechisms wherein the principles of the doctine of Christ…
Dr. John Owen's two short catechisms wherein the principles of the doctrine of Christ are unfolded and explained : proper for all persons to learn before they be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and composed by him for the use of all congregations in general.Dr. John Owen's two short catechisms wherein the principles of the doctine of Christ are unfolded and explained : proper for all persons to learn before they be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and composed by him for the use of all congregations in general.
London : Printed for, and sold by Will. Marshal ..., 1700
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 My loving Neighbours and Christian Friends.
Brethren,
MY hearts desire and request unto God for you is, that ye may be saved: I say the Truth in Christ also, I lye not, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great Heaviness, and continual Sorrow in my Heart, for them amongst you, who as yet walk disorderly, and not as beseemeth the Gospel, little labouring to acquaint themselves with the Mystery of Godliness; for many walk, of whom I have told you often weeping, and now tell you again with Sorrow, that they are the Enemies of the Cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their Belly, who mind earthly things. You know (Brethren) how I have been amongst you, and in what manner, for these few years past; and how I have kept back nothing (to the utmost of the dispensation to me committed) that was profitable unto you; but have showed you and taught you publicly, and from House to House, testifying to all, Repentance towards God, and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Now with what Sincerity this hath been by me performed; with what Issue and Success by you received, God the righteous Judge will one Day declare; for before him, must both you and I appear, to give an account of the dispensation of the glorious Gospel amongst us: in the mean while, the desire of my Heart is, to be Servant to the least of you in the Work of the Lord. And that in any way, which I can conceive profitable unto you either in your Persons or your Families. Now amongst my Endeavours in this kind, after the Ordinance of Public Preaching the Word, there is not, I conceive, any more needful, (as all will grant that know the Estate of this Place, how taught of late days, how full of ⟨image 4⟩grossly ignorant Persons) then Catechising, which hath caused me to set aside some Hours for the compiling of these following, which also I have procured to be printed merely because the least part of the Parish are able to read it in Writing, my Intention in them being, principally, to hold out those necessary Truths, wherein you have been in my Preaching more fully instructed: as they are, the use of them I shall briefly present unto you.