" An intention was formed, in the time of Edward and Elizabeth, to have also another authorized Cate- chism for the instruction of more advanced students, and especially those in public schools, touching the grounds of the Christian religion. -The original of this work is ascribed to Poynet (Orig. Lett. [Park. Soc] Ixxi, Chehe to BuUinger, June 7, 1553), who was bishop of Winchester during Ciardiner's deprivation. It was published in Latin and in English in 1553, and is sup- posed to have had the approval of Cranmer, and also of the Convocation which sanctioned the Articles in 1552 (see it reprinted in bishop Randolph's .£^racA«rKliofi Theologietim, vol. i. Both the English and Latm edi- tions are reprinted hi Liturgies, etc., ofEdw. VI [Park. Soc.]). It seems, however, that this was not consider- ed quite satisfactory ; nor was it able to supplant the many similar compilations of the foreign Reformen,
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which were adopted by many teechen, and occasioned much complaint as to the want of a uniform system of religious instruction (see Uardwick's Hist, of the ArU" dei, p. 108 sq.). Of foreign Catechisms there were the Catechism of Erasmus (1547), ordered to be used in Wincliester College and elsewhere; the Smaller and Lu^^ Catechisms of Calvm (1538 and 1545), that of CEcolampadius (1545), Leo Judas (1558)i and more es- pecially Bullinger (1559). Even in 1578, when the exclusive use of Nowell's Catechisms had been enjoin- ed in the canons of 1571, those of Calvin, Bullinger, and others were still ordered by statute to be used in the University of Oxford (see Cardwell, Doc. Ann. i, 800, note). Hence it was agreed by the bishops in 15& that, besides the Catechism for children who were to be confirmed, another somewhat longer should be devised for communicants, and a third, in Latin, for schools. It is probable that at this time Dean Kowell was employed upon such a Catechism, taking Poynet's as his groundwork ; so that it was completed before the meeting of Convocation (Nov. U, 1562), by which it was approved and amended, but not formally sanc- tioned, apparently because it was treated as part of a larger design, which was not realized, viz. to publish Nowell's Catechism, the Articles, and JewelVs Apology in one book ' by common consent to be authorized, as containing true doctrine, and enjoined to be taught to the youth in the universities and grammar-schools throughout the realm.' The Catechism, therefore, re- mained unpublished until 1570, when it was printed at the request of the archbishops, and appeared in several forms, in Latin and in English. The Larger CaUckigmy in Latin, intended to be used in places of liberal edu- cation, is reprinted in Bp. Randolph's EntUnd, Tkeo- logicum^ voL iL Its title is ' Catechismus, sive prima institutio, disciplinaque pietatis Christians, latine ex- plicata.' In the same year it was translated into Eng- lish by Norton. Also an abridgment of it, called the Shorter or the Middle Catechism, was prepared by Nowell for the use of schools. He also published a third, called the Smaller Catechism, differing but slightly from that in the Book of Common Prayer. It is probable that Overall abridged the questions and answers on the Sacraments from this Catechism (see Churton's Life ofNotceUy p. 188 sq. ; Lathbury, Hist, of Convoc. p. 167 sq.)." Cranmer's Catechism was re- printed, London, 1829, 8vo.
Among the numerous commentaries on the Cate- chism are, Nicholson (Bp.), An ExpoiUlon oftkt Cate- chism of the Church of England (2d ed. Oxf. 1844, 8vo) ; Bcveridge (Bp.), Church Catechism Explained (12mo) ; Nixon (F. R.), LectureSj Historical^ Dodrinal^ and Prac- tical, on the CaiedUsm of the Church of England (8d ed. Lond. 1847, 8vo); Fitzgerald (A. D.), Short Lectures on the Church Caiechkm (12mo) ; James (J.), A Comment on the Church Caiechism and Occasional Offices, or the- Mother's Help (Lond. 1842, 12mo) ; Seeker (Arp.), Lec- tures on the Church Catechism (12mo) ; Burnet's Exposi- tion of the Church Catechism (8vo). John Wesley says of it : **Our Church Catechism is utterly improper for children of six or seven years old" {Works, N. Y, ed. vii, 170).
4. Pretbgterian Church.^ The Wettmintter Cate- (AismSy with the Westminster Confession of Faith, con- stitute the standards or symbolical books of the Pres- byterian churches. They were prepared by commit- tees of the Westminster Assembly ; the Shorter Cat- echism was presented to the House of Commons No- vember 5, 1647 ; the Larger, April 5, 1648 ; and by resolution of September 15, 1648, the Catechisms were ordered printed bg auihorilg, for public use. The shorter is not an abridgment of the lar^cer, but the latter is an expansion of the former. They were both adopted by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1648. The Shorter Catechism **has been, and stiU is, in almost universal use among Presbyte- rians speaking the English language, and to a consid-
erable extent among Independents and Congregatioo- alists both in Britain and America. In Holland, also, a translation of it has been much used. It is tov generally regarded, by thoee whose doctrinal viewis are in accordance with it, as an admirable compend of Christian doctrine and duty. The authorship of the Westminster Assembly's Catechisms has been tfae sub- ject of much debate, or at least the authorship of the first drafts of them, it being admitted tliat they wei« prepared with great care by committees of the Aaeem- bly. But the probability appears to be that their au- thorship is to be ascribed entirely to these committeea, and that, like the Westminster Confession of Faith, they are thus the result of the joint labors of many. From discoveries recently made by Dr. M'Crie, it seems proWble that at least the plan or scheme of the Shorter Catechism is to be ascribed to Mr. Pafaner** (Chambers, s. v.).