THE Jany, 25,1818. — EVANGELICAL PRIMER, CONTAINING A MINOR DOCTRINAL CATECHISM; AND A MINOR HISTORICAL CATECHISM; TO WHICH IS ADDED. THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY'S WITH Short explanatory Notes, and copious Scripture Proofs FOR THE USE OF FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS. BY JOSEPH EMERSON, PASTOR OF A CHURCH IN BEVERLY, NINTH EDITION. BOSTON: Printed by Samuel T. Armstrong: and sold, wholesale and retail, by him, 50 Cornhill; And may also be had of Richard Boylston, Amherst, N.H.; Cushing ADDRESSED TO THE AUTHOR. SIR, Having carefully attended to the plan and execution of your Evangelical Primer, we cordially approve of both. We consider the two Minor Catechisms as well adapted to convey much useful instruction to young children, and to prepare their tender minds for learning and understanding that most excellent system of divinity, which is contained in the Assembly's Shorter Catechism, and which has been so long, so greatly, and so extensively useful in Europe and America. We are clearly of opinion, that your Evangelical Primer is the best publication of the kind, which we have seen, that it will have a great tendency to promote the knowledge of some of the most important events as well as of the most important doctrines contained in the Bible, and to guard the 11sing generation against the fatal errors, which are so zealously propagated at the present day by the enemies of truth. We sincerely wish that this book may have a free and general circulation, that Families and Schools would make use of it in formin, the minds of children and youth to virtue and piety, and that you may find all your labor amply rewarded in the success of your benevolent design. A. I. 1809. Nathaniel Emmans, Franklin. Joseph Lyman, Hatfield. Alvan Hyde, Pastor of the Church in Lee. David Parsons, Amaerst. Samuel Austin, Worcester. Samuel Worcester, Salem. A Daniel Hopkins, Salem. Thomas Worcester, Salisbury, N. II. Rufus Anderson, Wenham. es 1 DOCTRINAL CATECHISM. This Catechism contains the leading doctrines of the Note, It is earnestly recommended to teachers of this Primer, that they exert themselves to make learners repeat the answers, &c. distinctly, deliberately, under standingly, solemnly, and in all respects properly, as possible. WHO made you? God. What else did God make? He made the stones and hills, the brooks and trees, all living creatures, the sun, moon, and stars, and all other things. Of what did God make all things? Heb. 11:3. For whom did God make all things? For himself. How long has God lived? Always, without beginning. Where is God? Everywhere. When does God see you? By day and by night; he sees me, when I do wrong, and always sees me. What does God know? He knows all things. If I tell a lie, he knows it; if I speak an idle or wicked word, he hears it. He knows every word, that I speak, and every thought, that I think. What has God done for you? He has made me, and kept me alive; he has given me food to eat, and clothes to wear, and all other bles sings that I have enjoyed. What is the greatest thing, that God has ever done for you and the rest of mankind? He gave his Son Jesus Christ, to die for us, Heb. 2:9. What need was there, that Christ should die for. you? To atone for my sins. How have you sinned? I have not faithfully remem bered my Creator, to love him with all my heart, to pray to him, and to keep his holy Sabbath; and I have done many other things, which he has forbidden. What is the general char. acter of the natural heart? It is enmity against God; it is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, Jer 17:9. What is meant by the natural heart? It is a heart that has not been renewed by the Holy Spirit, John 3:6. What if Christ had not died for you and others We must have been pun. ished for all our sins, as we deserve. What do you deserve?. I deserve everlasting destruction in hell. Will Christ save you from hell! If I repent of my sins, and believe in him, he will save me from hell, and raise me to heaven. Can Christ raise you to heaven? He can; for he is the mighty God, the everlasting Father, Is. 9:6. What kind of a place is heaven? It is a most happy place. There is no night there; neither is there any sin, nor death, nor sickness, nor pain, nor sorrow, Rev. 7:16,17. If you were carried to heaven, should you be happy there? I could not be happy even in heaven with out being born again, and having a new heart. Why could you not be happy in heaven without being born again? I should not love Christ, nor angels, nor saints; and could not join in the heavenly employments. What proves a change of heart? Repentance to ward God and faith in Jesus Christ. What is true repentance toward God? It is to abhor sin, as committed against him; to abhor myself for Why is there no night sin, and to reform. there. Because Christ, the What is false repentance? sun of righteousness is there, It is sorrow, arising from and he is the light of heaven. fear of punishment, without If you go to heaven, what hating sin. company shall you there enjoy? I shall enjoy the company of the holy angels, of glorified saints, and of Christ himself. What is true faith in Je sus Christ? It is humbly receiving him as my teacher, Lord, and Saviour, giving myself to him, and trusting in him alone for salvation. What is false faith? It is holding the truths of the gospel in unrighteousness; How are glorified saints émployed? They are em ployed in loving one another, in loving the angels, and in uniting their hearts or believing that Jesus was and voices in loving, adoring, and praising God and the Redeemer. How long will their blessed employments continue? For ever and ever. the Son of God, without lov ing him. It is such a faith as the devils have. What reasons have you to trust in Christ alone for salvation? There is salvation in |
