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The Shorter Catechism
of the Westminster Assembly
Explained and Proved
from Scripture
by
Thomas Vincent
An Epistle to the Reader
To the Masters and Governors of Families Belonging to My Congregation.
To the Young Ones of My Congregation, Especially Those That Answer This Explicatory Catehcism in Our Public Assembly.
An Epistle to the Reader
That Popish axiom is long since exploded—That ignorance is the mother of devotion. The world
doth now see that without knowledge the mind is not good. And, look, as no knowledge is so
necessary as that of the grounds and principles of the Christian religion, so no way is so apt to
convey it to the minds of men as that which is called catechistical. More knowledge is ordinarily
diffused, especially among the ignorant and younger sort, by one hour's catechistical exercise than
by many hours' continued discourses. This way helps the understanding, whilst it provokes the
attention; many elaborate sermons being lost through the inadvertency of the hearers. Thus, not
only ignorance is cured, but error also is prevented; too many being misguided, because they were
not at first well-grounded in the principles of the doctrine of Christ. For such reasons as these, we
highly approve the labours of this reverend brother, in his "Explanation of the Assembly's Shorter
Catechism." And having, to our great satisfaction, perused it ourselves, in whole or in part, do
readily recommend it to others: for though he composed it at first for his own particular
congregation, yet we judge it may be greatly useful to all Christians in general, especially to
private families. The manner of using it in families must be left to the discretion of the masters and
governors respectively; though yet we concur with the author, and think it advisable (as he hints
in one of his epistles), that after a question in the Catechism is propounded, and an answer,
without book, returned by one of the family, the same person, or some other, be called upon to
read (if not to rehearse) the explanation of it, the rest reading along with him in several books; by
which means their thoughts (which are apt to wander) will be the more intent upon what they are
about. To conclude, though the Assembly's Shorter Catechism itself be above our
recommendation, as having its praises already in the Churches of Christ, yet we think it good to
give it under our hands, that this Explanation of it is very worthy of acceptation.
| (Signed) |
J. Owen, D. D. |
Ben. Needler. |
|
Joseph Caryl. |
Dan. Bull |
|
G. Griffith. |
Cha. Morton. |
|
Hen. Stubs. |
Willm. Carslake. |
|
Edm. Calamy. |
Robert Franklin. |
|
Mattw. Barker. |
Mattw. Sylvester. |
|
John Loder. |
Nathan Vincent. |
|
John Ruyther |
T. Jacomb, D. D. |
|
Nicol Blaikie. |
T. Case. |
|
James Janeway. |
T. Watson. |
|
H. Vaughan. |
T. Doolittle. |
|
Willm. Maddocks. |
James Innes. |
|
John Turner. |
Jo. Wells. |
|
Will. Thomson. |
Richard Mayo. |
|
T. Manton, D. D. |
John Hicks. |
|
Will. Jenkyn. |
Edw. Veal. |
|
C. Fowler. |
Edw. West. |
|
T. Lye. |
Edw. Lawrence. |
|
T. Cawton. |
Jo. Chester. |
|
Thos. Brooks. |
J. Sharp. |
To the Masters and Governors of Families
Belonging to My Congregation.
Some dedicate their books unto lords and ladies, or other great persons; such possibly I might find
out, had I a mind to seek; but as my love is most endeared unto you, to whom I stand so nearly
related, so my greatest ambition is to be serviceable unto your souls. Your cordial and constant
love to me and my labours (in a whiffling age), of which you have given many manifest proofs,
deserveth a greater expression of my grateful sense than the dedication of this book unto you.
God, by bringing you under my ministry, hath given me the charge of your souls; and God, by
bringing persons into your families, hath given you a charge of their souls. Our charge is great,
and to be guilty of the ruin of souls is dreadful. Happy shall we be, if we be found faithful to our
own and others' souls, in the great day of accounts. Too many, even in our nation and city perish
and run blindfold into hell, for want of knowledge; and the most are without knowledge, for
want of instruction; and as no way of instruction doth convey clearer light of distinct knowledge in
the principles of religion than the way of catechising, so the neglect of this in ministers and masters
of families is such a sin of unfaithfulness unto the souls of them that are under their charge, that all
of us should take heed we have it not to answer for at the appearance of our Lord. It is not sufficient
for you to bring your children and servants to receive public instruction; but it is your duty also to
instruct them privately, and at home to examine them in their catechisms. I know no catechism more
full of light and sound doctrine than the Shorter Catechism of the late Reverend Assembly; yet,
because in many answers there are things not easy to be understood by beginners, therefore, in this
my Explanation of it, I have taken pains to take abroad every answer, to open it in several under-questions and answers, and to confirm the truths thereof by reasons and Scripture proofs; which I
have endeavoured to do as plainly and familiarly as I could, that everything therein might be the more
intelligible and useful unto such as either learn or read it. Some chief controversies in religion I have
touched upon, briefly propounding arguments for the backing of the truth, and not left objections
wholly unanswered; which I have the rather done, that all of you, especially the more unexperienced
young ones under you, might get some armour against everywhere prevailing error. You know that
some have committed the whole of the Explanation, so far as we have gone, unto memory (how
beneficial they have found this, others besides themselves can speak); yet all have not that strength
of memory, neither would I impose this Explanation to be learned without book by all; yet this I
advise, that you, who are masters of families, would set apart time, twice, or at least once every
week, to examine your children and servants in the Assembly's Catechism, taking Mr Lye's excellent
method in the way of asking questions, whom God hath made singularly useful in the diffusing much
light amongst young ones. And after they have given you the answers, without book, which are in
the Catechism, that then yourselves would read, or cause one of them to read, some part of this
Explanation on those answers, so far as you can well go at a time. And if each of them that can read
should, both in your families and in our public assembly, have one of these Explanations in their
hands, to read along with them that read or publicly answer, they would the better attend and
understand what is read or answered: which course, I apprehend, will exceedingly tend to their great
profit; and that such as do this with diligence will, through God's blessing, attain in a short time much
proficiency in the best knowledge, which is such a jewel, that none, me-thinks, should be contentedly
without, when with less labour than for other jewels of inferior value, it may be obtained. This
Explanatory Catechism was chiefly, if not only, intended for you, and the use of such as are of my
congregation; which, if it may find acceptation also with, an prove beneficial unto other families, I
shall rejoice. The more generally useful my poor endeavours are, as it will tend so much the more to
the glory of my great Master, so it will yield to myself the greatest comfort, especially in a dying hour.
I shall take my leave of you, though I be not departed from you, with the departing exhortation of
the apostle: "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able
to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."-Acts 20:32.-Your earnest souls' well-wisher.
T. VINCENT.
To the Young Ones of My Congregation,
Especially Those That Answer This Explicatory
Catehcism in Our Public Assembly.
Should I leave you out in my dedication of this book, I might seem both injurious unto you, for whose
sake chiefly the book itself was composed, and injurious to my own love which I have for you, so
many ways endeared, whereby also I am strongly obliged to do all the service I can for your souls.
Your reciprocal love is a great tie; but the chief obligation of all, is the near relation between us, when
I can write to you, not as my hearers only, but to many of you as my children; and that I may lay, in
the words of the apostle, 1 Cor. 4:15 (which I desire to speak, not to mine own, but to the praise and
glory of God, through whose blessing alone it is that my ministry, so mean comparatively, hath had
this effect): "Though ye should have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers;
for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you, through the gospel." My endeavours are (as a father to his
children), to feed you with knowledge and understanding, and that of incomparably the most excellent
things. Had you as large understanding in the secrets and mysteries of nature as the greatest and most
wise philosopher, Solomon himself not excepted—had you skill in all languages under heaven, and
could speak with the tongues of men and angels; yet all human knowledge, in the greatest height and
improvement of it, would not be worthy to be compared and named the same day with the knowledge
of Jesus Christ, and the mysteries of salvation with which I would acquaint you. You have seen the
light of the moon, and some brightness in the stars, when the curtains of night have been drawn over
the heavens all which luminaries, upon the rising of the sun, with its more glorious light, have
disappeared and shrunk out of sight into darkness '-such is the light of all human knowledge,
compared with the beams of divine light, which do issue forth from the Sun of Righteousness. It is
the light of the knowledge of the will, and ways, and glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, that I
desire to hold forth unto you. The whole Scripture is full of this light; but as, in the moon, some parts
are clearer than others, so in the Holy Scriptures some parts are more full of this light. Such are those
parts which contain the chief things to be known and believed, to be done and practised, in order to
salvation. These things are excellently reduced by the late Reverend Assembly into questions and
answers, in their Shorter Catechism. In this Catechism I have been some years instructing some of
you; and that you might the better understand what you there learn, I did, above four years ago, begin
this Explanation of it; which at first you had in writing, and upon your desire afterward, I put it sheet
after sheet, as you learned it, in the press for you. The often failure of the printer hath caused many
interruptions and intercessions in our work. Therefore, having finished the whole, I have now printed
the whole together, that we be not broken off upon that account any more; which, as the fruit of
much study, and as a token of most dear love, I present unto you. And now, dear young ones, think
not much of taking pains in learning that which hath cost me so much pains in composing for you.
Such of you as have not time, or strength of memory, for the learning of it, I advise to the frequent
reading of it; and where it is not read in your families, that you often read it over alone. How
profitable this will prove, experience, through God's blessing, in a short time will show. Hereby you
may be able to look over the heads of most of your years in knowledge; which that you may be filled
with, as with every grace, is the prayer for you to the Father of lights, from whom cometh every good
and perfect gift, of
Yours in the sincerest bonds,
T. VINCENT.
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