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THE
NEW ENGLAND
PRIMER:
CONTAINING
THE A^EMBLY's CATECHISM, THE ACCOUNT
OF THE BURNING OF JOBN ROGERS £ A
DIALOGUE BETWEEN CHRIST, ,/
YOUTH, AND THE DEVIL J
AND VARIOUS OTHER USEFUL^Ifl) INSTRUCTIVE
MATTER. " '
ADORNED WIT" CUTS.
WITH
A HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION,
BY REV. H. HUMPHREY. D. D.,
President of Amhers'. -College.
WORCESTER:
PUBLISHED BY S. A.. HOWLAND.
Historical introduction.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism. — In
calling tine particular attention of heads of families
to this[ admirable compendium of Christian doc-
trine* I tlo;not mean to speak disparagingly of the
catechisms of thoF-e evangelical Christians, who
disseut* from joniu of its statements; but only to
express'my own admiration of it, as the most lucid,
guarded and comprehensive epitome of Bible truth,
which I have ever seen ; and as, in my judgment,
the best family lhanual that the wisdom and piety
of any tody qf uninspired men has ever yet given
to the church. And however the advocates of other
creeds may dnTtr from me in opinion, I cannot well
see how the ealightened members of that very large
body of Christians, Presbyterian and Congrega-
tional, who embrace the Westminster Confession
of Faith, can dissent. A brief reference to the his-
tory of the origfr and adoption of our Shorter Cat-
hism, will, ir I do not greatly mistake, enhance
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
its value in the estimation of pious and candid
minds.
" It was felt," says Dr. Belfrage, in his Exposi-
tion of this unrivalled compend, " by the leading
men in the struggle with superstition and arbitrary
power, in the seventeenth century, that a scheme
of doctrine, church government and worship, pure
and scriptural, would be a most excellent means
of establishing the rights for which they were con-
tending, and forming the virtues by which freedom
is blessed. It was with this view that the West-
minster Assembly was convened, and that its pro-
ceedings were honored with the countenance of t)jt
first and best men in the land — the first in infill*
ence, and the best in true worth." All parties are
constrained in fairness and candor to admit, that
this Assembly was composed of men of distin-
guished talents, learning, piety, and ministerial
abilities. Mr. Baxter, who knew the greater part
of them well, says that the Christian world, since
the days of the Apostles, never had a Synod of
more excellent divines. Tne Assembly was con-
vened in 1 643, and was composed of one hundred
and twenty- one divines, or presbyters, thirty lay
assessors, and Jive commissioners from Scotland.
It sat more than Jive years and a half. While the
Confession of Faith was under discussion, it was
reduced to the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, by
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
able committees ; and both these " forms of sound
words" were, after careful examination, solemnly-
sanctioned by the Assembly.
Our Puritan ancestors brought the Shorter Cate-
chism along with them across the ocean, and laid
it on the same shelf with the family Bible. They
taught it diligently to their children every Sabbath
day; and while that was to be read through in
course, this was to be committed to memory, at a
very early period of childhood. Within the last
thirty years, the catechism has been gradually fall-
ing into neglect, and has been to a great extent dis-
placed in pious families, by simpler, and, in too
many cases, extremely superficial substitutes. The
common objection is, not to the system of doctrines
which it inculcates, but that they are above the
comprehension of children at the tender age when
it is used to be committed and recited. This objec-
tion proceeds upon the assumption that it is no
advantage to learn anything earlier than it can be
fully understood. Is this a correct view of the
matter ?
Your objection to it is, that your children cannot
understand it. But are the doctrines which it em-
braces, the true and fundamental doctrines of the
gospel, and are they expressed in fewer and better
words and definitions than in any other summary
with which you are acquainted ? If this is your
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
deliberate opinion, ought you not early to store the
memories of your children with these precious
truths, so that when, as they advance towards ma-
turity, their attention is arrested by the Spirit of
God, tbey may have one of the richest treasures
that ever human wisdom and industry accumulated
to draw from ? For myself, though I confess with
shame, that, when my mother used to give me my
little task, and teach me the chief end of man, I
would gladly have been excused from both, and
wondered what good they could ever do me ; I sub-
sequently found abundant cause to be thankful for
her fidelity and perseverance. I was astonished,
when I began to read the Bible seriously, and to
collect and arrange its doctrines, to find what a fund
of definitions and important scriptural truths I had
got treasured up for the occasion. This, I doubt
not, accords with the experience of thousands, who,
like myself, once loathed the Assembly's Cate-
chism. And how delightful is it to hear, as we
sometimes do, the aged disciple, just on the verge
of heaven, repeating with thrilling interest, and
feasting his soul upon the definitions of justifica-
tion, sanctif cation, glorification, and the like, which,
three quarters of a century before, were imprinted
indelibly upon his memory in the nursery.
!1 theai it were true, as some believe and allege,
that the Westminster Catechism is entirely above
8
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
the comprehension of young children, some of
their time might be most profitably employed in
committing it to memory. But is it true ? Are not
many of the questions so admirably and lucidly
propounded and answered, as to make it easy for
an intelligent Christian parent to explain, and bring
them down to a very early comprehension ; and is
it not better to leave something for the parent to do,
and for the child to study and try to understand,
than to excuse the one from all responsibility in
teaching, and put off the other with those prepared
dilutions and simplifications, which none but the
merest infant can be kept upon, without great and
lasting injury ?
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
INSTRUCTIVE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS.
WHO was the first man ? Adam.
Who was the first woman ? Eve.
Who was the first murderer ! Cain.
Who was the first martyr ? Abel.
Who was the first translated ? Enoch.
Who was the oldest man ? Methuselah
Who built the ark? Noah.
Who was the most faithful man ? Abraham
Who was the meekest man ? Moses.
Who was the most patient man? Job.
Who wrestled with the angel of God ? Jacob
Who led Israel into Canaan? Joshua.
Who was the strongest man? Samson.
Who killed Goliath? David.
Who was the wisest man ? Solomon.
Who was in the whale's belly? Jonah.
Who was cast into the lions' den ? Daniel.
Who saves lost men ? Jesus Christ
Who is Jesus Christ ? The Son of God.
Who was the mother of Christ? Mary.
Who was the beloved disciple? John.
Who betrayed his Master? Judas.
Who denied his Master ? Peter.
Who were struck dead for lying ? Ananias
and Sapphira.
Who was the first Christian martyr? Stephen.
Who was the chief apostle of the Gentiles ?
Paul.
10
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
In Adam's fall
We sinned all.
Thy life to mend,
God's Book attend.
The Cat doth play,
And after slay.
A Dog will bite
A thief at night.
The Eagle's flight
Is out of sight.
The idle Fool
Is whipt at school.
A B C D E F
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
11
As runs the Glass,
Man's life doth pass.
My book and Heart
Shall never part.
Job feels the Rod,
Yet blesses God.
Proud Koran's troop
Was swallow'd up.
The Lion bold
The lamb doth hold.
TheMoon gives light
In time of night.
GHIJKLM
12
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
Nightingales sing
In time of spring.
The royal Oak, it
was the tree
That sav'd his royal
majesty.
Peter denies
His Lord, and cries.
Queen Esther comes
in royal state,
To save the Jews,
from dismal fate.
Rachael doth mourn
For her first-born.
Samuel anoints
Whom God appoints.
JN O P Q R S
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
Time cuts down all,
Both great and small
Uriah's beauteous
wife
Made David seek
his life.
Whales in the sea
God's voice obey.
Xerxes the Great
did die,
And so must you
and I.
Youth forward slips,
Death soonest nips.
Zaccheus he
Did climb the tree,
His Lord to see.
T U VWXYZ
14 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
AN ALPHABET OF LESSONS.
A WISE son maketh a glad father, but a
foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
BETTER is a little with the fear of the
Lord, than great treasures and trouble
therewith.
COME unto Christ, all ye that labor and are
heavy laden, and he will give you rest.
0 not the abominable thing which I hate,
saith the Lord.
D
EXCEPT a man be born again, he cannot
see the kingdom of heaven.
FOOLISHNESS is bound up in the heart
of a child, but the rod of correction shall
drive it far from him.
GODLINESS is profitable unto all things,
having the promise of the life that now
is, and that which is to come.
OLINESS becoraeth God's house for-
ever.
H
IT is good for me to draw nigh unto God.
KEEP thy heart with all diligence, for out
of it are the issues of life.
LIARS shall have their part in the lake
which burns with fire and brimstone.
N
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 15
MANY are the afflictions of the righteous ;
but the Lord delivereth them out of them
all.
0¥ is the accepted time, and now is the
day of salvation.
OUT of the abundance of the heart the
mouth speaketh.
PRAY to thy Father who is in secret, and
thy Father who seeth in secret, will re-
ward thee openly.
UIT you like men, be strong, standing in
the faith.
REMEMBER thy Creator in the days of
thy youth.
Q
OALVATION belongeth unto the Lord.
TRUST in God always, ye people ; pour out
your hearts before him.
UPON the wicked, God shall rain an horri-
ble tempest.
WO to the wicked! it shall be ill with him ;
for the reward of his hands shall be
given him.
E'V'HORT one another daily, while it is
JSl. called to-day, lest any be hardened
through the deceitfulness of s>in.
16 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
VTOUNG men, you have overcome the wick-
JL ed one.
ZEAL hath consumed me, because my ene-
mies have forgotten the word of God.
THE LORD'S PRAYER.— Matt. vi.
OXJR Father, which art in heaven, hal-
lowed be thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread ;
and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors ; and lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil. For thine is the king-
dom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.
THE SUM OF THE COMMANDMENTS.
w
ITH all thy soul love God above,
And as thyself thy neighbor love.
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 17
A CHILD'S MORNING PRAYER.
I THANK the Lord for having kept
My soul and body while I slept ;
I pray the Lord that through this day,
In all I do, and think and say, ,
I may be^ kept from harm and sin,
And made both pure and good within.
PRAYER AT LYING DOWN.
NOW I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep ;
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
AGUR'S PRAYER.
REMOVE far from me vanity and lies :
Give me neither poverty nor riches ; feed
ne with food convenient for me ; lest I be
"ull, and deny thee, and say, Who is the
Lord1? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take
the name of my God in vain.
2
18 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
A CRADLE HYMN.
HUSH, my dear, lie still and slumber,
Holy angels guard thy bed ;
Heavenly blessings without number
Gently falling on thy head.
Sleep, my babe ! Thy food and raiment,
House and home, thy friends provide ;
And without thy care or payment,
All thy wants are well supplied.
How much better thou'rt attended,
Than the Son of God could be,
When from heaven he descended,
And became a child like thee !
Soft and easy is thy cradle ;
Coarse and hard thy Savior lay,
When his birthplace was a stable,
And his softest bed was hay.
Blessed Babe ! what glorious features,
Spotless fair, divinely bright !
Must he dwell with brutal creatures ?
How could angels bear the sight ?
Was there nothing but a manger,
Cursed sinners could afford
To receive the heavenly stranger?
Did they thus affront the Lord1?
Soft, my child, I did not chide thee,
Though my song may sound too hard ;
'T is thy mother sits beside thee,
And her arms shall be thy guard.
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 19
Yet to read the shameful story,
How the Jews abused their king,
How they served the Lord of glory,
Makes me angry while I sing.
See the kinder shepherds round him,
Telling wonders from the sky ;
There they sought Mm, there they found him,
With his virgin mother by.
See the lovely babe a dressing —
Lovely Infant ! how he smiled !
When he wept, the mother's blessing
Soothed and hushed the holy child.
Lo ! he slumbered in the manger,
Where the horned oxen fed :
Peace, my darling ! here 's no danger,
Here 's no oxen near thy bed.
'T was to save thee, child, from dying,
Save my dear from burning flame,
Bitter groans and endless crying,
That thy blessed Redeemer came.
Mayst thou live to know and fear him,
Trust and love him all thy days ;
Then go dwell forever near him,
See his face, and sing his praise.
I could give thee thousand kisses,
Hoping what I most desire ;
Not a mother's fondest wishes
Can to greater joy aspire.
20 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
VERSES FOR LITTLE CHILDREN.
THOUGH I am young, a little one,
If I can speak, and go alone,
Then I must learn to know the Lord,
And lear.n to read his holy word.
'T is time to seek to God, and pray
For what I want for every day,
I have a precious soul to save,
And I a mortal body have.
Though I am young, yet I may die,
And hasten to eternity :
There is a dreadful fiery hell,
Where wicked ones must always dwell ;
There is a heaven full of joy,
Where godly ones shall always stay :
To one of these my soul must fly,
As in a moment, when I die.
When God, who made me, calls me home,
I must not stay — I must be gone.
He gives me life, he gives me breath,
And he can save my soul from death,
By Jesus Christ, my only Lord,
According to his holy Word :
He clothes my back, and keeps me warm ;
He saves my bones and flesh from harm ;
He gives me bread, and milk, and meat,
And all I have that 's good to eat ,
When I am sick, he, if he please,
Can make me well, and give me ease ;
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 21
He gives me sleep and quiet rest,
Whereby my body is refreshed : —
The Lord is good and kind to me,
And very thankful I mu6t be.
I must not sin, as many do,
Lest I lie down in sorrow too :
For God is angry every day
With wicked ones who go astray.
From sinful words ' must refrain ;
I must not take Gor's name in vain ;
I must not work, I must not play,
Upon God's holy Sabbath day :
And if my parents speak the word,
I must obey them in the Lord :
Nor steal, nor lie, nor waste my days
In idle tales, nor foolish plays.
I must obey my Lord's commands —
Do something with my little hands —
Remember my Creator now,
In )routh, while time will it allow.
Young Samuel, that little child,
He served the Lord, lived undefiled :
Him in his service God employed,
While Eli's wicked children died.
Like young Abijah, I must see
That good things may be found in me.
These good examples were for me,
Like these good children I must be.
Give me true faith in Christ my Lord,
Obedience to his holy word ;
22 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
Make my heart in thy statutes sound,
And make my faith and love abound :
Lord, circumcise my heart to love thee,
And nothing in this world above thee.
Let me behold thy blessed face,
And cause my soul to grow in grace,
And in the knowledge of the Lord,
And Savior Christ, and of his word.
UNCERTAINTY OF LIFE.
|" IN the burying place may see
JL Graves shorter there than I :
From death's arrest no age is free —
Young children too may die.
My God, may such an awful sight
Awakening be to me !
0 ' that by early grace I might
For death prepared be !
OUR SAVIOR'S GOLDEN RULE.
BE to others kind and true,
As you 'd have others be to you ;
And neither do nor say to men,
Whate'er you would not take again.
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 23
BURNING OF MR. JOHN ROGERS.
Mr. John Rogers, minister of the gos-
pel in London, was the first martyr in Queen
Mary's reign, and was burnt at Smithfield,
February 14, 1554. His wife, with nine
small children, and one at her breast, fol-
lowed him to the stake ; with which sorrow-
ful sight he was not in the least daunted,
but with wonderful patience died courageous-
ly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As they were taking him to the place of
execution, his wife and children wished to
take their last farewell of a tender husband
and an indulgent parent ; but the sheriff
would not permit them to speak to him — so
24 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
cruel is man to his fellow-man ! When
chained to the stake, he declared that God
would, in his own good time, vindicate the
truth of what he had taught, and appear in
favor of the Protestant religion. Fire was
then set to the pile, and he was consumed to
ashes.
A few days before his death, he wrote the
following advice to his children : —
Give ear, my children, to my words,
Whom God hath dearly bought ;
Lay up his laws within your hearts,
And print them in your thought.
1 leave you here a little book,
For you to look upon,
That you may see your Father's face,
When he is dead and gone :
Who, for the hope of heavenly things,
While he did here remain,
Gave over all his golden years
To prison and to pain.
Where, bound with painful iron bands,
Inclosed in the dark,
Not many days before his death
He did compose this work.
And for example to your youth,
To whom I wish all good,
I send you here God's perfect truth,
And seal it with my blood ;
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 25
To you, my heirs of earthly things,
Which I do leave behind,
That you may read and understand,
And keep it in your mind ;
That as you have been heirs of that
Which soon will wear away,
You also may possess that part,
Which never shall decay.
Keep always God before your eyes,
With all your whole intent ;
Commit no sin in any wise,
And keep his commandment.
Abhor that arrant whore of Rome,
And all her blasphemies ;
And drink not of her cursed cup :
Obey not her decrees.
Give honor to your mother dear ■
Remember well her pain ;
And recompense her in her age
With the like love again.
Be always ready for her help,
And let her not decay ;
Remember well your father all,
Who would have been your stay.
Give of your portion to the poor,
As riches do arise ;
And from the needy, naked soul
Turn not away your eyes.
26 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
For he that doth not hear the cry
Of those that stand in need,
Shall cry himself and not be heard
When he doth hope to speed.
If God hath given you increase,
And blessed well your store,
Remember you are put in trust,
And should relieve the poor.
Beware of foul and filthy lusts —
Let such things have no place ;
Keep clean your vessels in the Lord,
That he may you embrace.
You are the temples of the Lord,
For you are dearly bought,
And they that do defile the same,
Shall surely come to nought.
Never be proud by any means,
Build not your house too high ;
But always have before your eyes
That vou were born to die.
Defraud not him that hired is,
Your labor to sustain ;
But pay him still, without delay,
His wages for his pain.
And as you would that other men
Toward,0 you should proceed,
Do you tiie same to them again,
When they do stand in need.
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 27
Impart your portion to the poor,
In money and in meat :
And send the feeble, fainting soul
Of that which you do eat.
Ask counsel always of the wise,
Give ear unto the end,
And ne'er refuse the sweet rebuke
Of him that is thy friend.
Be always thankful to the Lord,
With prayer and with praise ;
Begging of him to bless your work,
And to direct your ways.
Seek first, I say, the living God,
And always him adore ;
And then be sure that he will bless
Your basket and your store.
And I beseech Almighty God
To replenish you with grace,
That I may meet you in the heavens,
And see you face to face.
And though the fire my body burns,
Contrary to my kind,
That I cannot enjoy your love,
According to my mind ;
Yet I do hope that when the heavens
Shall vanisa like a scroll,
I shall see you in perfect shape,
In body ami in soul.
28 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
And that I may enjoy your love,
And you enjoy the land,
I do beseech the living Lord
To hold you in his hand.
Though here my body be adjudged
In flaming fire to fry,
My soul, I trust, will straight aseend,
To live with God on high.
What though this carcass smart awhile?
What though this life decay %
My soul, I hope, will be with God,
And live with him for aye.
I know I am a sinner born
From the original,
And that I do deserve to die,
By my forefather's fall.
But by our Savior's precious blood,
Which on the cross was spilt ;
Who freely offered up his life,
To save our souls from guilt ;
I hope redemption I shall have,
And all that in him trust ;
When I shall see him face to face,
And live among the just.
Why then should I fear death's grim look,
Since Christ for me did die ?
For king and Ceesar, rich and poor,
The force of death must try.
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 29
When I am chained to a stake,
And fagots gird me round,
Then pray the Lord my soul in heaven
May be with glory crowned.
Come welcome death , the end of fears,
I am prepared to die ;
Those earthly flames will send my soul
Up to the Lord on high.
Farewell, my children, to the world,
Where you must yet remain ;
The Lord of hosts be your defence,
Till we do meet again.
Farewell, my true and loving wife,
My children, and my friends :
I hope in heaven to see you all,
When all things have their ends.
If you go on to serve the Lord,
As you have now begun,
You shall walk safely all your days,
Until your life be done.
God grant you so to end your days,
As he shall think it best ;
That I may meet you in the heavens,
Where I do hope to rest.
30 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
THE
SHORTER CATECHISM.
AGREED UPON BY THE REVEREND ASSEMBLY OP DIVINES
AT WESTMINSTER.
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man ?
A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and
to enjoy him forever. Rom. 14 : 8. Deut.
12: 18.
Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us
how we may glorify and enjoy him ?
A. The word of God, which is contained
in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa-
ment, is the only rule to direct us how we
may glorify and enjoy him. Ps. 19 : 7. 2 Pet.
1:21.
Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach ?
A. The Scriptures principally teach what
man is to helieve concerning God, and what
duty God requires of man. Deut. 31 : 12.
Lu. 10:25, 26.
Q. 4. What is God ?
A. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and
unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power,
holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. Jn
4:24. Job 11: 7.
Q. 5. Are there more Gods than onel
NEW ENGLAND PRIMES. 31
A. There is but one God only, the living
and true God. 1 Cor. 8 : 4. Jer. 10 : 10.
Q. 6. How many perso?is are there in the God-
head ?
A. There are three persons in the God-
head— the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost; and these three are one God, the
same in substance, equal in power and glory.
Un. 5 : 7. Matt. 28 : 19.
Q. 7. What are the decrees of God ?
A. The decrees of God are his eternal
purpose, according to the counsel of his own
will, whereby for his own glory he hath fore-
ordained whatsoever comes to pass. Eph. 1 :
11. Acts 4: 28.
Q. 8. How doth God execute his decrees ?
A. God executeth his decrees in the works
of creation and providence. Rev. 4 : 11. Ps.
103 : 19.
Q. 9. What is the work of creation ?
A. The work of creation is God's making
all things of nothing, by the word of his
power, in the space of six days, and all very
good. Ex. 20: 11. Gen. 1 : 31.
Q. 10. How did God create man ?
A. God created man, male and female,
after his own image, in knowledge, right-
eousness, and holiness, with dominion oveT
the creatures. Gen. 1 : 27, 28.
Q. 11. What are God's works of providence ?
32 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
A. God's works of providence are his
most wise and powerful preserving and gov-
erning all his creatures, and all their actions.
Ps. 145 : 15. Prov. 16 : 9.
Q. 12. What special act of providence did God
exercise towards man in the estate wherein he was
created ?
A. When God created man, he entered
into a covenant of life with him, upon condi-
tion of perfect obedience, forbidding him to
eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil,
upon the pain of death. Gen. 3 : 3. Gen. 2 :
17.
Q. 13. Did our first parents continue in the
estate wherein they were created ?
A. Our first parents being left to the free-
dom of their own will, fell from the estate
wherein they were created, by sinning against
God. Gen. 3 : 13. Rom. 5 : 12.
Q. 14. What is sin ?
A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or
transgression of the law of God. Gal. 3:10.
Un. 3 : 4.
Q. 15. What was the sin whereby our first
parents fell from yhe estate wherein they were
created? %
A. The sin whereby our first parents fell
from the estate wherein they were created,
was their eating the forbidden fruit Gen
3 : 6. Rom. 5 : 17.
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 33
Q. 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first
transgression ?
A. The covenant being made with Adam,
not only for himself, but for his posterity, all
mankind descending from him by ordinary
generation, sinned in him, and fell with him
in his first transgression. Rom. 5 : 14. Rom.
5: 12.
Q. 17. Into what estate did the fall bring man-
kind ?
A. The fall brought mankind into an estate
of sin and misery. Rom. 5 : 17, 19.
Q. 18. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that
estate into which man fell ?
A. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto
man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam's first
sin, the want of original righteousness, and
the corruption of his whole nature, which is
commonly called original sin, together with
all actual transgressions which proceed frou,
it. Rom. 5 : 18. Ecc. 7 : 20.
Q. 19. What is the misery of that estate into
rvhich man fell?
A. All mankind by the fall lost communion
with God, are under his wrath and curse,
and so made liable to all the miseries of this
life, to death itself, and to the pains cf hell
forever. Eph. 2:3. Ps. 9 : 17.
Q. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in
the estate of sin and misery?
3
34 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
A. God having, out of his mere good
pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to
everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of
grace to deliver them out of the estate of sin
and misery, and to bring them into an estate
of salvation, by a Redeemer. Acts 13 : 48.
Ps. 89 : 3.
Q. 21. Who is the Redeemer of Gotfs elect?
A. The only Redeemer of God's elect is
the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eter-
nal Son of God, became man, and so was
and continues to be both God and man, in
two distinct natures, and one person forever.
Gal. 4 : 45. Col. 2:9.
Q. 22. Horn did Christ, being the Son of God,
become man ?
A. Christ, the Son of God, became man
by taking to himself a true body and a rea-
sonable soul, being conceived by the power
of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin
Mary, and born of her, and yet without sin.
Lu. 1 : 35. Heb. 4 : 15.
Q. 23. Wliat offices doth Christ execute as our
Redeemer ?
A. Christ as our Redeemer executeth the
offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a
kintf, both in his estate of humiliation and
exaltation. Jn. 6 : 14. Ps. 110:4. Matt
21:5 , jt r
J. * ,. Hon doth Christ execute the office of a
propfe -
NEW ENGLAND PRIMEH. 35
A. Christ as our Redeemer executeth the
office of a prophet in revealing- to us, by his
word and Spirit, the will of God for our sal-
vation. Jn. 1.4 : 26. Jn. 15 : 15.
Q. 25. How doth Christ execute the office of a
priest 1 M J
< A. Christ executeth the office of a priest
in his once offering up himself a sacrifice to
satisfy divine justice and reconcile us to God,
and in making continual intercession for us
Heb. 7 : 27. 9 . 26.
Q. 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a
king ? m j
A. Christ executeth the office of a kino- iE
subduing us to himself, in ruling and defend-
ing us, and in restraining and conquering all
his and our enemies. Ps. 89-18 1 Cor
15 : 25.
Q. 27. Wherein did Christ's humiliation con
sist ?
A. Christ's humiliation consisted in his
being born, and that in a low condition, mad*
under the law, undergoing the miseries oi
this lite, the wrath of God, and the cursed
4eath of the cross ; in being buried, and con-
tinuing under the power of death for a time
Lu. 2 : 7. Phil. 2 : 8.
Q. 28. Where in co,isistcth Christ's exaltation ?
A. Christ's exaltation consiste-th in his
rising again from the dead on the third day,
in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the
«J6 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
right hand of God the Father, and in coming
to judge the world at the last day. 1 Cor.
15:4. Acts 17: 31.
Q. 29. How are we made partakers of the re
demption purchased by Christ ?
A. We are made partakers of the redemp-
tion purchased by Christ, by the effectual
application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.
Heb. 9 : 12. Jn. 1 : 12.
Q. 30. How doth the Spirit apply to us the
redemption 'purchased by Christ ?
A. The Spirit applieth to us the redemp-
tion purchased by Christ, by working faith
in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ, in
our effectual calling. Gal. 3 : 14.
Q. 31. What is effectual calling ?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God's
Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and
misery, enlightening our minds in the knowl-
edge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he
doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus
Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
Ezek. 36:26. Jn. 6 : 44.
Q 32. Wltat benefits do they that are effectu-
ally called partake of in this life ?
A. They that are effectually called, do in
this life partake of justification, adoption and
sanctification, and the several benefits which,
in this life, do either accompany or flow from
them. Rom. 8 : 30. Heb. 10 : 10.
Q. 33. What is justification ?
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 37
A. Justification is an act of God's free
grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, an
accepteth us as righteous in his sight, onl^
for the righteousness of Christ imputed to U3
and received by faith alone. Rom. 3 : 22
24, and 5: 19. *
Q. 34. What is adoption ?
A. Adoption is an act of God's free grace,
whereby we are received into the number,
and have a right to all the privileges, of the
sons of God. 1 Jn. 3 : 1. Eph. 1 : 5.
Q. 35. What is saactip ration ?
A. Sanctifieation is the work of God's free
grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole
man after the image of God, and are enabled
more and more to die unto sin, and live unto
righteousness. 2 Cor. 3 : 18. Rom. 6 : 6.
Q 36. What are tht benefits which in this life
do accompany or flow from justification, adoption,
and sanctifieation 1
A. The benefits which in this life do ac-
company or flow from justification, adoption,
and sanctiflcation, are assurances of God's
love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy
Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance
therein to the end. Rom. 5 : 5. Prov. 4 : 18.
Q. 37. Whet benefits do believers receive from
Christ at their death ?
A. The souls of believers are at their
death made perfect in holiness, and do imme-
diately pass into glory : their bodies being
38 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
still united to Christ, do rest in their graves
till the resurrection. Heb. 12 : 23. 1 Thess.
4: 14.
Q. 38. What benefits do believers receive from
Christ at the resurrection ?
A. At the resurrection, believers being-
raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowl-
edged and acquitted in the day of judgment,
and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoy-
ment of God to all eternity. Luke 12 : 8.
1 Cor. 2 : 9.
Q. 39. What is the duty which God requires
ef man ?
A. The duty which God requires of man
is obedience to his revealed will. Deut. 10 :
12. 1 Sam. 15 : 22.
Q. 40. What did God at first reveal to man
for the rule of his obedience ?
A. The rule which God at first revealed
to man for his obedience, was the moral law.
Gal. 3 : 24. Matt. 5 : 18.
$.41. Wherein is the moral law summarily
comprehended ?
A. The moral law is summarily compre-
hended in the ten commandments. 2 Tim.
3 : 16, 17. Deut. 10 : 4.
Q. 42. What is the sum of the ten command-
ments ?
A. The sum of the ten commandments is,
to love the Lord our God with all our heart,
with all our soul, with all our strength, and
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 30
with all our mind ; and our neighbor as our-
selves. Matt. 22 : 37, 38, 39.
Q. 43. Mliat is the preface to the ten command-
ments ?
A. The preface to the ten commandments
L3 in these words : I am the Lord thy God,
which have brought thee out of the land of
Egypt, and out of the house of bondage. Ex.
20:2.
Q. 44. Wliat does the preface to the ten com-
mandments teach us ?
A. The preface to the ten commandments
teaches us, that because God is the Lord and
our Redeemer, therefore we are bound to
keep all his commandments. 1 Tim. 6 : 15.
Josh. 24 : 18.
Q. 45. Which is the first commandment ?
A. The first commandment is, Thou shall
have no other gods before me. Ex. 20 : 3.
Q . 46 . What is required in the first commandment?
A. The first commandment requireth us to
know and acknowledge God to be the only
true God and oin God, and to worship and
glorify him accordmglv. Hos. 13 : 4. Matt.
4: 10. Ps. 95 :6, 7.
Q. 47. What is forbidden in the first command-
merit?
A. The first corumandment forbiddeth the
denying or not worshipping and glorifying
the true God, as God, and our God ; and the
giving that worship and glory to any other
which is due to him alone. Ps. 14 : 1. 97 : 7.
40 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
Q. 48. What are we specially taught by these
words, before me, in the first commandment ?
A. These words, before me, in the first
commandment, teach us, that God, who seeth
all things, taketh notice of, and is much dis-
pleased with the sin of having any other God.
Heb. 4 : 13. Deut. 32 : 16.
Q. 49. Which is the second commandment ?
A. The second commandment is, Thou
shalt not make unto thee any graven image,
or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven
above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that
is in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt
not bow down trfyself to them nor serve them ,
for I, the Lord, thy God, am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the
children, unto the third and fourth generation
of them that hate me, and showing mercy
unto thousands of them that love me and
keep my commandments. Ex. 20 : 4, 5, 6.
Q. 50. What is required in the second com-
mandment ?
A. The second commandment requireth
the receiving, observing and keeping pure
and entire all such religious worship and or-
dinances as God has appointed in his word.
Ps. 45: 11. Deut. 12:32.
Q. 51. What is forbidden in the second com-
mandment ?
A. The second commandment forbiddeth
the worshipping of God by images, or any
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 41
other way not appointed in his word. Deut
4: 15, 16. 4:2.
Q. 52. What are the reasons annexed to the
second commandment 1
A. The reasons annexed to the second
commandment are, God's sovereignty over us,
his property in us, and the zeal he hath to
his own worship. Is. 33 : 22. Ps. 95 : 7.
Q. 53. Which is the third commandment?
A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt
not take the name of the Lord thy God in
vain ; for the Lord will not hold him guilt-
less thattaketh his name in vain. Ex. 20 : 7.
Q. 54. What is required in the third command-
ment ?
A. The third commandment requireth the
holy and reverend use of God's names, titles,
attributes, ordinances, words and works. Ps
29:2. Prov. 13: 13.
Q 55. What is forbidden in the third com
mandment ?
A. The third commandment forbiddeth all
profaning or abusing of any thing whereby
God maketh himself known. Lev. 18:21.
Matt. 23: 14.
Q. 56. What is the reason annexed to the third
commandment ?
A. The reason annexed to the third com-
mandment is, that however the breakers of
this commandment may escape punishment
from men, yet the Lord our God will not suf
42 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
fer them to escape his righteous judgment.
Deut. 28 : 58, 59.
Q. 57. What is the fourth commandment ?
A. The fourth commandment is, Remem-
ber the Sabbath day to keep it holy : six
days shalt thou labor and do all thy work, but
the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord
thy God : in it thou shalt not do any work,
thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy
man-servant nor thy maid-servant, nor thy
cattle, nor the stranger that is within thy
gate : for in six days the Lord made heaven
and earth, the sea, and all that in them is,
and rested the seventh day ; wherefore the
Lord blessed the seventh day and hallowed
it. Ex. 20:8— 11.
Q. 58. What is required in the fourth com-
mandment ?
A. The fourth commandment requireth the
keeping holy to God such set times as he hath
appointed in his word, expressly one whole
day in seven, to be a holy Sabbath to him-
self. Lev. 19 : 30. Deut. 5 : 12.
Q. 59. Which day of the seven hath God ap-
pointed to he the weekly Sabbath ?
A. From the beginning of the world to the
resurrection of Christ, God appointed the
seventh day of the week to be the weekly
Sabbath ; and the first day of the week ever
since, to continue to the e*d of the world,
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 43
which is the Christian Sabbath. Deut. 5 :
14. Acts 20 : 7.
Q. 60. How is the Snbbatli to be sanctified?
A. The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a
holy resting all that day, even from such
worldly employments and recreations as are
lawful on other days, and spending the whole
time in public and private exercises of God?s
worship, except so much as is to be taken up
in works of necessity and mercy. Ex. 31 :
15. Lev. 23 : 3.
Q. 61. niiat is forbidden in the fourth com-
mandment ?
A. The fourth commandment forbiddeth
the omission or careless performance of the
duties required, and the profaning the day by
idleness, or doing that which in itself is sin-
ful, or by unnecessary thoughts, words', or
works, about worldlv employments and recie-
ations. Ezek. 22 : 26. Ex. 20 : 8.
Q. 62. Wliat am the reasons annexed to the
fourth commandment ?
A. The reasons annexed to the fourth
commandment are, God's allowing us six
days in the week for our own employments,
his challenging a special propriety in the
seventh, his own example, and his blessing
the Sabbath day. Ex. 31 : 15. Lev. 23 : 3.
Q. 63. What is the ffth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment is, Honor thy
44 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
father and thy mother, that thy days may be
long upon the land which the Lord thy God
giveth thee. Ex. 20 : 12.
Q. 64. JVJiat is required in the fifth command-
ment ?
A. The fifth commandment requireth the
preserving the honor and performing the du-
des belonging to every one in their several
places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or
equals. Rom. 13: 1. Lev. 19:32.
Q. 65. What is forbidden in the fifth command-
ment ?
A. The fifth commandment forbiddeth the
neglect of, or doing any thing against the
honor and dnfy which belongeth to everyone
in their several places and relations. Rom.
13: 8, 17.
Q. 66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth
commandment ?
A. The reason annexed to the fifth com-
mandment is, a promise of long life and pros-
perity, as far as it shall serve for God's glory
and their own good, to all such as keep this
commandment. Eph. 6:2,3. Prov. 30 : 8.
Q. 67. Which is the sixth commandment 1
A. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt
not kill. Ex. 20 : 13.
Q. 68. What is required in the sixth com-
mandment ?
A. The sixth commandment requireth all
lawful endeavors to preserve our own life.
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 45
and the life of others. Matt. 16 : 25. Prov.
24: 11, 12.
Q. 69. What is forbidden in the sixth com-
mandment ?
A. The sixth commandment forbiddeth the
taking away of our own life, or the life of our
neighbor unjustly ; or whatsoever tendeth
thereunto. Acts 16 : 28. Lev. 24 : 17.
Q. 70. Wliich is the seventh comvuindment?
A. The seventh commandment is, Thou
shalt not commit adultery. Ex. 20 : 14.
Q. 71. What is required in the seventh com-
mandment ?
A. The seventh commandment requireth
the preservation of our own and our neighbor's
chastity, in heart, speech, and behavior.
Prov. 5:8. Eph. 5: 11.
Q. 72. What is forbidden in the seventh com-
mandment ?
A. The seventh commandment forbiddeth
all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions
Matt. 5 : 28. Eph. 4 : 29. 5 : 3.
Q. 73. What is the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment is, Thou
shalt not steal. Ex. 20 : 15.
Q. 74. What is required i)i the eighth com-
mandment ?
A. The eighth commandment requireth
the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth
and outward estate of ourselves and others
Rom. 12 : 17. Gal. 4 : 10.
46 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
Q. 75. What is forbidden in the eighth com-
mandment ?
A. Tha eighth commandment forbiddeth
whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder our
own and our neighbor's wealth or outward es-
tate. 1 Tim. 6 : 10, and 5:8.
Q. 76. What is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt
not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Ex. 20 : 16.
Q. 17. What is required in the ninth command-
ment ?
A. The ninth commandment requireth the
maintaining and promoting of truth between
man and man, and of our own and of our
neighbor's good name, especially in witness
bearing. Matt. 5 : 16. Prov.14 : 5.
Q. 78. What is forbidden in the ninth com-
mandment ?
A. The ninth commandment forbiddeth
whatever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious
to our own or our neighbor's good name.
Prov. 29: 11. Ex. 23: 1.
Q. 79. Wiiat is the tenth commandment ?
A. The tenth commandment is, Thou
shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou
shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his
man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox,
nor his ass, nor- anv thing that is thy neigh-
bor's. Ex. 20 : 17'
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 47
Q. 80. What is required in the tenth com-
mandment ?
A. The tenth commandment requireth full
contentment with our own condition, with a
right and charitable frame of spirit toward
our neighbor, and all that is his. Heb. 13 :
5. Lev. 12 : 15.
Q. 81. Wfiat is forbidden in the tenth com-
mandment ?
A. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all
discontentment with our own estate, envying
or grieving at the good of our neighbor, and
all the inordinate motions and affections to
any thing that is his. 1 Cor. 10 : 10. Deut
5:21.
Q. S3. Is any man able perfectly to keep the com
mandmmts of God ?
A. No mere man since the fall is able, in
this life, perfectly to keep the commandments
of God, but doth daily break them in thought,
word, and deed. Eccl. 7 : 20. Gen. 6 : 5.
Q. 83. Are all transgressions of the law equally
heinous ?
A. Some sins in themselves, and by rea-
son of several aggravations, are more heinous
in the sight of God than others. 1 John 5 :
16. Matt. 23 : 14.
Q. 84. What doth every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserveth God's wrath and
curse, both in this life and that which is to
come. Gal. 3 : 10. Rom. 6 : 23.
48 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
Q. 85. What doth God require of vs that we
may escape his wrath and curse due to its for sin ?
A. To escape the wrath and curse of God
due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith in
Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the
diligent use of all the outward means where-
by Christ communicateth to us the benefits of
redemption. John 3 : 16. Phil. 2 : 12, 13.
Q. 86. What is J ait h in Jesus Christ ?
A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving- grace,
whereby we receive and rest upon him alone
for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gos-
pel. John 1 : 12. Eph. 1 : 13.
Q. 87. What is repentance unto life ?
A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace,
whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his
sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God
in Christ, doth with grief and hatred of his
sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose
of, and endeavor after, new obedience. 2 Cor.
7: 10. Rom. 2:4. 7:6.
Q. 88. What are the outward and ordinary
means whereby Christ cmnmunicateth to us the bene-
fits of redemption ?
A. The outward and ordinary means
whereby Christ communicateth to us the
benefits of redemption, are his ordinances,
especially the word, sacraments, and prayer ;
all which are made effectual to the elect for
salvation. Acts 2 : 42. Ji nn 20 : 31.
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 49
Q. 89. How is the word made effectual to salva-
tion ?
A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading,
but especially the preaching of the word, an
effectual means of convincing and converting
sinners, and of building them up in holiness
and comfort, through faith unto salvation.
Ps. 19 : 7. Acts 2 : 37.
Q. 90. How is the ?vord to be read and heard,
that it may become effectual to salvation ?
A. That the \\*ird may become effectual
to salvation, we must attend thereunto with
diligence, preparation and prayer, receive it
with faith and love, laying it up in our hearts,
and practise it in our lives. Acts 17: 11
Deut. 11 : 18.
Q. 91. How do the sacraments become effectual
means of salvation ?
A. The sacraments become effectual means
of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or
in him that doth administer them, but only
by the blessing of Christ, and the working of
his Spirit in them that by faith receive them.
Acts 8 : 13, 23. Mark 16 : 16.
Q. 92. What is a sacrament ?
A. A sacrament is a holy ordinance, insti
tuted by Christ, wherein, by sensible signs
Christ and the benefits of the new covenan
are represented, sealed, and applied to believ
ers. lCor. 10: 21, and 11 f 24.
4
50 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
Q. 93. What are the sacraments of the New
Testament ?
A The sacraments of the New Testament
sxe oaptism and the Lord's supper. Matt.
26. 19. 1 Cor. 11 : 23.
Q 94. What is baptism?
A. Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the
washing- with water in the name of the Fa-
ther, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,
doth signify and seal our ingrafting into
Christ, our partaking of the benefits of the cov-
enant of grace, and our engagement to be the
Lord's. Gal. 3 : 27. Acts 2 : 38.
Q 95. To whom is haptism to he' administered?
A. Baptism is not to be administered to
any that are out of the visible church, till
they profess their faith in Christ and obedi-
ence to him, but the infants of such as are
members of the visible church are to be bap-
M/od. Acts 8 : 36, 37. Lu. 18 : 16.
^. 9fi. What is the Lord's supper?
A. The Lord's supper is a sacrament,
wherein by giving and receiving bread and
wine, according to Christ's appointment, his
death is showed forth, and the worthy re-
ceivers are not after a corporal and carnal
manner, but by faith made partakers of his
body and blood, with all his benefits, to their
spiritual nourishment and irrowth in grace.
Lu. 22: 19. Matt. 20 : 27,"
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
Q. 97. What is required tu the rvorthy receiving
of the Lord's supper ?
A. It is required of them that would wor-
thily partake of the Lord's supper, that they
examine themselves of their knowledge to
discern the Lord's body, of their faith to feed
upon him, of their repentance, love, and new
obedience, lest, coming unworthily, they eat
and drink judgment to themselves. 1 Cor.
11 : 28, 29. Lam. 3:40.
Q. 98. Wiat is prayer ?
A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires
to God for things agreeable to his will, in the
name of Christ, with confession of our sins
and a thankful acknowledgment of his mer-
cies. Isa. 45 : 22, 23. Phi1. 6 : 6.
Q. 99. What rule hath God given for our di
rection in prayer ?
A. The whole Word of God is of use to
direct us in prayer ; but the special rule ol
direction is that form of prayer which Christ
taught his disciples, commonly called the
Lord's prayer. Lu. 11:1. Matt. 6 : 9.
Q. 100. What doth the preface to the Lord's
prayer Uach us ?
A. The preface to the Lord's prayer,
which is, Our Father, who art in heaven,
teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy
reverence and confidence, as children to a
father, able and ready to help us ano max *e
£2 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
should pray with and for others. Matt. 7 :
11. 1 Tim. 2: 11.
Q. 101. What do we pray for in the first peti-
tion ?
A. In the first petition, which is, Hallowed
be thy name, we pray that God would enable
us and others to glorify him in all that where-
by he maketh himself known, and that he
would dispose all things to his own glory.
Ps. 51 : 15, and 67 : 3.
Q. 102. What do tve pray for in the second pe-
tition ?
A. In the second petition, which is, Thy
kingdom come, we pray that Satan's king-
dom may be destroyed, that the kingdom of
grace may be advanced, ourselves and others
Drought into it, and kept in it, and that the
kingdom of glory may be hastened. Lu. 23 :
42. Ps. 119: 117.
Q. 103. Wliat do we pray for in the third pe-
tition ?
A. In the third petition, which is, Thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven, we
pray that God, by his grace, would make us
able and willing to know, obey, and submit
lo his will in all things, as the angels do in
heaven. Job 1:21. Ps. 100 : 2.
Q. 104. What do we pray for in the fourth pe-
tition ?
A. In the fourth petition which is, Giy§
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 53
us this day our daily bread, we pray that of
God's free gift we may receive a competent
portion of the good things of this life, and
enjoy his blessing with them. Gen. 28 : 20,
and 32 : 10.
Q. 105. What do we pray for in the fifth peti-
tion ?
A. In the fifth petition, which is, And foi-
give us our debts as we forgive our debtors,
we pray that God, for Christ's sake, would
freely pardon all our sins, which we are the ra-
ther encouraged to ask, because by his grace
we are enabled from the heart to forgive oth-
ers. Lu. 11 : 4. Matt. 18: 35.
Q. 106. What do we pray for in the sixth peti
tion ?
A. In the sixth petition, which is, And
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil, we pray that God would either keep
us from being tempted to sin, or support and
deliver us when we are tempted. Matt. 26 :
41. 2 Cor. 12: 8.
Q. 107. What doth the conclusion of the Lord's
prayer teach us ?
A. The conclusion of the Lord's prayer,
which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, forever and ever, Alien,
teacheth us to take our encouragement in
prayer from God only, and in our prayers to
praise him, ascribing kingdouij 7*rvrer and
54 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
glory to him, and in testimony of our desires,
and assurance to he heard, we say, Amen.
Dan. 9: 18. 1 Chron. 29: 11.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS PUT
INTO SHORT AND EASY RHYMES
FOR CHILDREN.
1. Thou shalt have no more gods but me.
2. Before no idol bena thy knee.
3. Take not the name of God in vain.
4. Dare not the Sabbath day profane.
5. Give both thy parents honor due.
6. Take heed that thou no murder do.
7. Abstain from words and deeds unclean.
8. Steal not, though thou be poor and mean.
9. Make not a wilful lie, nor love it.
10. What is thy neighbor's, dare not covet.
A MORNING PRAYER.
Now I wake and see the light ;
'T is God who kept me through the night ;
To him I lift my voice and pray
That he would keep me through the day ;
If I should die before "t is done,
O God accept me through thy Son.
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 55
A DIALOGUE
BETWEEN
CHRIST, A YOUTH, AND THE DEVIL.
Those days which God to me doth send,
In pleasure I 'm resolved to spend ;
Like as the birds, in lovely spring,
Sit chirping on the boughs and sing.—
Who straining forth those warbling notes,
Do make sweet music in their throats, —
So I resolve in this my prime,
In sports and plays to spend my time ;
56 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
Sorrow and grief I'll put away,
Such things agree not with my day.
From clouds my morning shall he free,
And nought on earth shall trouble me.
I will embrace each sweet delight
This earth affords me, day and night;
Though parents grieve, and me correct,
Yet I their counsel will reject.
DEVIL.
The resolution which you take,
Sweet youth, it doth me merry make.
If thou my counsel wilt embrace,
And shun the ways of truth and grace,
And learn to lie, to curse, and swear,
And be as proud as any are,
And with thy brothers wilt fall out,
And sisters with vile language flout;
Yea, fight and scratch, and also bite,
Then I in thee wili take delight.
If thou wilt hut he ruled hy me,
An artist thou shall quickly be
In all my ways, which lovely are ;
There 's few with thee who shall compare.
Thy parents always disobey ;
Don't mind at all what they do say ;
And also proud and .sullen he,
And thou shalt be a child for me.
When others rear!, he thou at play,
Think not on God ; don't mind to pray;
Nor be thou such a silly fool,
To mind thy book, or go to school,
But play the truant ; fear not, I
Will straightway help thee to a lie,
Which will excuse thee for the same,
From being whir-oed, and from all blame.
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
Come how to me, uphold my crown,
And I !li thee raise to high renown.
YOUTH.
These notions I will cleave unto,
And let all other counsel go ;
My heart against my parents now,
Shall hardened be, and will not bow
I won't submit at all to them,
But all good counsel will contemn:
And what I list, that do will I,
And stubborn be continually.
CHRIST.
Wilt thou, O Youth, make such a choice,
And thus obey the Devil's voice?
Curs'd sinful ways wilt thou embrace,
And bate the ways of truth and grace?
Wilt thou to me a rebel prove?
And from thy parents quite remove
Thy heart also ? then shalt thou see
What will ere long become of thee.
Come, think on God. who did thee make,
And at his presence dread and quake ;
Remember him now in thy youth,
And let thy soul take hold on trul'*;
The Devil and his ways defy,
Believe him not, he doth but lie :
His ways seem sweet, but, Youth, beware,
He for thy soul hath laid a snare.
His sweet will unto bitter turn ;
If in those ways thou still wilt run,
He will thee into pieces tear,
Like lions which most hungry are.
Grant me thy heart, thy folly leave,
And from this lion I '11 thee save ;
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
And thou shalt have sweet joy from me,
Which will last to eternity.
YOUTH.
My heart shall cheer me in my youth,
I Ml have my frolics in good truth:
Whate'er seems lovely in mine eye,
Myself I cannot it deny.
In'inine own ways I still will walk,
And take delight among young folk.
Who spend their days in joy and mirth.
Nothing like that while I 'm on earth!
Thy ways, O Christ, are not for me;
They with my age do not agree !
If 1 unto thy laws should cleave,
No more good days then should I have.
CHRIST.
Woidd'st thou live long, and good days see,
Refrain from all iniquity;
True good alone from me doth flow —
It can't he had in things below.
Are not my ways, O Youth, for thee?
Then thou' shalt never happy he;
Nor ever shall thy soul obtain
True good, whilst thou dost here remain.
YOUTH.
To thee, O Christ ! I '11 not adhere;
What thou speak'st of, does not appear
Lovely to me : I cannot find
'T is good to set or place my mind
On ways whence many sorrows spring,
And to the flesh such crosses bring.
Don't trouble me ; I must fulfil
My fleshly mind, and have my will.
NEW ENGLAx\D PRIMER. 59
Unto thyself then, I '11 thee leave,
That Satan may thee wholly have ;
Thy heart in sin shall hardened be,
And blinded in iniquity:
And then in wrath I 'If cut thee down,
Like as the grass and flowers are mown
And to thy wo, thou shalt espy
Childhood and youth are vanity:
For all such things I 'II make thee know
To judgment thou shah come also:
In hell at last thy soul must burn,
When thou thy sinful race hast run.
Consider this ; think on thy end,
Lest God do thee in pieces rend.
Amazed, Lord ! I now begin ;
0 help me, and I '11 leave my sin.
1 tremble, and do greatly fear
To think upon what I do hear.
Lord, I religious now will be,
And I '11 from Satan turn to thee
Nay, foolish Youth, don't change thy mind,
Unto such thoughts be not inclined.
Come, cheer thy heart, rouse up, be glad;
There is no hell ; why art thou sad ?
Eat, drink, be merry with thy friend ;
For when thou dies't, that 's thy end.
Such thoughts as these I can't receire,
Beeause God's word I do believe ;
60 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
None shall in this destroy my faith ;
Nor do I mind what Satan saith.
DEVIL.
Although to thee herein I yield,
Yet I ere long shall win the field.
That there 's a heaven I can't deny,
Yea, and a hell of misery :
That heaven is a lovely place
1 can't deny — 't is a clear case —
And easy it is to come there ;
Therefore take thou no further care ;
All human laws do thou ohserve,
And from old customs never swerve ;
Do not oppose what great men say,
And thou shalt never go astray ;
Thou mayst be drunk, and swear, and curse,
And sinners like thee ne'er the worse ;
At any time thou mayst repent,
'T will serve when all thy days are spent.
CHRIST.
Take heed, or else thou art undone :
These thoughts are from the wicked one.
Narrow's the way that leads to life;
Who walk therein do meet with strife.
Few shall be saved, as thou shalt know,
But many to destruction go.
If righteous ones scarce saved be,
What will at last become of thee ?
Oh! don't neglect my precious call,
Lest suddenly in hell thou fall :
Unless that thou converted be,
God's kingdom thou shalt never see.
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 61
YOUTH.
Lord, I am now at a great stand ;
If I should yield to thy command,
My comrades would me much deride,
And never more with me abide :
Moreover, this I also know,
Thou canst at last great mercy show.
When I am old, and pleasure 's gone,
Then what thou sayst, I '11 think upon.
CHRIST.
Nay, hold vain youth, thy time is short:
I '11 have thy breath ; I 'II end thy sport :
Thou shalt not live till thou art old,
Since thou in sin art grown so bold ;
I, in thy youth grim Death will send,
And all thy sports put to an end.
YOUTH.
I am too young, alas ! to die !
Let death* some old gray head espy.
O spare me, and I will amend,
And with thy grace my soul befriend ;
Or else I am undone : alas !
For I am in a woful case.
When I did call, thou wouldst not hear
But didst to me turn a deaf ear ;
And now, in thy calamity,
I will not mind nor hear thy cry ;
Thy day is past ; begone from me,
Thou who didst love iniquity
Above thy soul, or Savior dear,
Who on the cross great pain did bear.
02 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
My mercies thou didst much abuse,
And all good counsel didst refuse:
Justice will therefore vengeance take,
And thee a sad example make.
YOUTH.
Oh! spare me, Lord : forbear thy hand:
Don't cut me off, who trembling stand,
Begging for mercy, at thy door;
O, let me live but one year more !
CHRIST.
If thou some longer time shouldst live,
Thou wouldst again to folly cleave;
Therefore, to thee I will not give
One day on earth longer to live.
DEATH.
Youth, I am come to take thy breath,
And carry thee to the shades of death:
No pity to thee I can show,
Thou hast thy God offended so.
Thy soul and body I 'II divide ;
Thy body in the grave I 11 hide,
And thy dear soul in fi ell must lie
With devils, to eternity.
Thus end the days of wicked youth,
Who won't obey, nor mind the truth;
Nor hearken to what preachers say,
Put do their parents disobey
They in their youth go down to hell,
Under eternal wrath to dwell ;
And do not live out half their days,
For cleaving unto sinful ways.
NEW ENGLAND PRIMER. 61
I MORNING PRAYER FOR CHIL
DREN.
A lmighty and most merciful Father, thou
keepest me from harm by night and by day,
and art always doing me good. I thank thee
that thou hast taken such care of me the last
night, and that I am alive and well this morn-
ing. Save me from all evil this day : and
wheresoever I am, let me always remember
that thou, God, seest me ; that so I may not
dare to sin against thee. — Bless all my
friends, as well as myself: do good to them
it all times, and in all places, and help me al-
ways to serve them in love. — And after I have
lone thy will here on earth, by thy grace as-
dsting me, then give my soul a place in hea-
en, to dwell with thee there, and with thv
>on Jesus Christ : for heaven and earth, and
11 things in them, are thine forevermore.—
bnen.
64 NEW ENGLAND PRIMER.
AN EVENING PRAYER FOR CHIL-
DREN.
O Lord God, thou knowest all things.
Thou seest me by night as well as by day,
and art acquainted with all my words and all
my thoughts. May I be thankful for all the
favors of the past day, and all my life past ;
and ever regard thee as the great Author of
all mercies. Bless all my friends and rela-
tions ; may they, with me, be delivered from
evil, and guarded from temptation. Make
me affectionate towards them : may I love
them for their kindness to me. — Pardon what-
ever sins I have committed against thee.
May I sleep in safety this night, beneath the
shadow of thy wings ; and awake in the morn-
ing, refreshed with the repose of the night.
As I pass from one day to another, may thy
grace enable me to serve and honor thee
in this world ; and at last, may I be re-
ceived to thy heavenly kingdom, through Je-
sus Christ, who died to save me from sin and
everlasting destruction — to whom be honor
and praise forever. — Amen.
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Advice to Youth.
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|j| Now in the heat of youthful blood *£
j£ Remember your Creator God : jjs
51$ Behold fhe months come hast'ning on, 5£
Q When you shall say — My joys are gone. CJ3
*£ Behold the age* sinner goes, 'a
5£ Laden with guilt and heavy woes, ifc
C£ Down to the regions of the dead, . 5s
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^ With endless curses on his head. "%
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51? The dust returns to dust again : 5K
Q The soul in agonies of pain ^
•)g Ascends to God ; not there to dwell, Jjf
5jf But hears her doom, and sinks to hell. %
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C£ Eternal King, I fear thy name, S
J|§ Teach me to know how frail lam; Jj£
5£ And when my soul must hence remove, ^jC
j£ Give me a mansion in thy love. >5
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