EXPLANATION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S SHORTER CATECHISM. WHEREIN ALL THE ANSWERS IN THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM ARE TAKEN THE TRUTHS EXPLAINED AND PROVED BY REASON AND SCRIPTURE; SOME CHIEF CONTROVERSIES IN RELIGION STATED; WITH ARGUMENTS AGAINST DIVERS ERRORS. USEFUL TO BE READ IN PRIVATE FAMILIES, AFTER EXAMINATION IN THE BY THOMAS VINCENT. JOHN JOHNSTONE, 15 PRINCES STREET, EDINBURGH; AND M.DCCC.XLVIII. 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 A |