As it was carried on in the Lord's Days Exercises in Dartraoutli,^ in the first Year of Liberty, 1688,
JL HAT catechising is an ordinance of God, {ew will doubt, when they consider the apostles did first lay the fundamentals of religion ; Heb. vi. 1. And **fed babes with milk, teaching them the first prin- *^ ciples of the oracles of God," Heb. v. 12. and questionless taught them in that manner, which was most suitable to the capacity of the learners, which may be well supposed to be by plain and short ques- tions, and suitable answers thereunto ; and therefore this hath been a constant practice in the church of God ; and the primitive church had a particular person appropriated thereunto, whom they called Catechisf.
And so all well-governed, and wisely-managed chiu'ches, have still maintained and used it, as knowing the necessity and usefulness thereof; for the younger sort to inform them in the principles of that religion whereinto they were baptized ; and for the establish- ment of the adult and more aged therein.
Hence have issued those little composures of all the fundamental doctrines of faith and practice so handled (which we call Catechisms) in the churches ; and particularly in ours, whereof there are many and divers, whose authors have well deserved for their endeavours to inform and edify the people thereby.
But among them all, none excel this little Catechism of the As- sembly for orthodoxy, fulness, and method.
And because the answers therein are some of them pretty large, and treat of the most profound mysteries of our religion ; therefore several persons have bestowed their good and laudable pains, some in descanting more largely, and proving by scriptural reasons the parti- culars : one has shown the harmony thereof with the articles and ho- milies of the church of England (designed, I suppose, to remove the prejudice which some have taken against it:) others have parted the
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q\]cstions and answers into several little ones, under each, to make them more intelligible to younger ones, and more easy to be remem- bered.
Among whom, worthy, orthodox, and excellent Mr. John Flavel may be ranked, who among other of liis many most profitable labours, applied himself to the chewing of tliis bread of life, or crumbling it into smaller pieces, for the covenience of children, and, indeed, of all ; wherein (as in all his other works) he hath shewn himself a workman, that needs not to be ashamed.
There needs no other recommendation to this posthumous piece, but the worthy author's name; he was removed before he had com- pletely finished it ; he had prepared his questions and answers upon the second petition of the Lord's Prayer ; but lived not to propose them in the public congregation. God then translated him into his kingdom of glory above, while he was so industriously endeavouring to promote the kingdom of grace below.
The other five remaining questions and answers (to complete the work) were done by a ruder hand ; as may be easily discerned by any observant reader, who will find himself transferred from a plain, clear, and delightful stile, method, and manner, into more rough, disorderly, and unpleasant ones ; for, who indeed could equal this di- vine labourer ? Not the completer ; who would account himself to have made very great attainments in divinity and usefulness, if he were left but a few furlongs behind him.
Let the reader use and peruse this piece, and he will see cause to bless God for the author.
JL HE Divine Providence having unexpectedly cast my lot, for a few days, in Dartmouth, where that blessed man of God, Mr. John Flavel, did for many years honour Christ, and was honoured by him ; I have been favoured with a sight of that most judicious ex- plication of the Assembly's Catechism, which is emitted herev/ith.
Being desired to testify my respect to the worthy author, by pre- facing this excellent labour of his with a few lines ; I can truly say, (as sometimes Beza of Calvin,) Now Mr. Favel is dead, life will be less sweet, and death less bitter to me.
My heart bleeds to look on this desolate place, and not to see him, that, whilst living, was the glory of it.
But neither the author, nor his writings, stand in need of the com- mendation of others, much less of mine.
His works, already published, have made his name precious in both Englands; and it will be so, as long as the earth shall endure.
There are some considerations which may cause the reader to ex-
I4i0 AN EPISTLE TO THE HEADER.
pect (and he will not find himself disappointed therein) that which is extrordinary in this httle manuel ; for the author's heart was very- much engaged in doing this service for Christ, in thus feeding his lambs. And he did himself design the publication of what is here committed to the press ; and was very desirous (with an holy sub- mission to the will of God) to have perfected this work before his decease; but had strange intimations that he should finish his course before that could be done.
When he did, viva voce, deliver his meditations, there were many enlargements, and lively passages, which are not here inserted; never- theless, here is as much as he thought needful for public view, not being willing that his book should be voluminous.
In his last catechetical exercise, concerning Hallowing' the name of God, he was exceedingly enlarged; but he must himself go into the kingdom of glory, when he intended to have discoursed on that petition, Th?/ I'lngdom come.
He also began some meditations on ihejoys of heaven ; but before he had an opportunity to express what had been in his heart, the Lord Jesus said unto him, " Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'* And thus doth it happen many times to the eminent and holy ser- vants of God.
Another consideration, recommending what comes herewith, isj, that it was amongst Mr. Flavel's last works. The {i'^ohia ^ni^ala) last sayings of wise and great men have been esteemed oraculous ; and the Scripture puts an emphasis on the last words of David, the sweet singer of Israel, 2 Sam. xxiii. 1. Not that those were the last words that ever David spake, only they were written not long before his death, when he was come near heaven.
So was what is now put into the reader's hand, written by Mr. Flavel not long before his translation to the world of souls, where the spirits of just men are made perfect.
There was a more than ordinary presence of God with him to his last; and in his last day, not the last sermon that he preached (which was June 21, 1691) he did more than once surprize his hearers with an intimation, that that might be the last time he should speak to them in the name of the Lord. And was not then the secret of the Lord with him .?
Dartmouth will know, and Devonshire will know, that there has been a prophet among them.