The second thinge which I labour for is to confirme in the Catholike faith by such proofs of the Catholike doctrine as may suffize for that purpose . And that you may better vnderstande how I proceede in this , I desire you to take good notice in the Creede . ( For in the other Discourses there is noe difficulty . ) For the vnderstanding of which you are to minde well the methode which the Apostles haue obserued in composing of it , which they carried with them in their liues , and left behinde them at their deaths , as a rule of diuine faith . First against Atheists who would perswade themselues that there is noe God , they laid this ground I beleeue in God . Secondly against Pagans , who on the contrary beleeue in many Gods , they professe their beleefe in one onely God the maker of heauen and earth . Thirdly against Iewes and Turks , and all such as they foresaw might beleeue in one God , yet deny Christ , they professe their beleefe in Iesus Christ the onely Sonne of God . Yet all this was not sufficient finally to resolue in point of faith For being that there might be seuerall sorts of Christians all of them beleeuing in Iesus Christ , yet all could not haue the true faith of Christ , as being opposite in doctrine , and disobedient to each others Churches ; therefor it was further necessary that the Apostles should declare which of all Christian Churches that were then , or might be afterwards , was the true Church of Christ . This they did in the ninth article , when hauing professed the cheife things that concerned the B. Trinity , and the mystery of the Incarnation , in the next place they added I beleeue the Catholike Church . Here noy all controuersys of faith should haue an end , we being allwais bounde to beleeue the Church , and in all points to referre our selues with obedience to it . And if this article had bene allwais truely obserued , there neuer could haue bene any haeresys , nor false Churches of Christians in the world . For if all Christians had allwais kept themselues constant to the doctrine of the Church , and continued obedient , submitting allwais to it , noe false Churches of Christians could at first haue risen , all of them first rising in the breach of this atticle ; for that they will not beleeue the Catholike Church , which is then and must be at all times extant , for the gouernment of the world in the true worship of God ; but will follow the conceipts of some priuate men , and beginne new Churches which then are not in any place . And if we rightly consider this article we shall finde it sufficient to destinguish amongst all Christian people that now are , which of them is for the present the true Church of Christ . For as at first the true Church of Christ was planted Catholike , that is to say a people all ouer and vniuersally agreeing in the same faith and doctrine ; and those that beganne false Churches of Christians were first of it , and went forth to beginne a new Church in disobedience to it ; soe if amongst all the Churches of Christians that are now in the world we finde one out of which they haue all gone forth ; all the rest that haue gone forth of it are false Churches , and that out of which they haue all gone forth must haue the true faith of Christ , and be that first Church which the Apostles planted , and called The Catholike Church . This argument of the Apostles take to prosecute , and to prooue more at large that which they in the Creede haue but briefly professed First in the first article against atheists that there is a God . Secondly in the same article against Pagans that there is but one God . Thirdly in the second article against Iewes and Turks and all that deny Christ I prooue the Christian faith . Fourthly in the ninth article I shew , how that amongst all the Christian Churches that are in the world , there is none but the Romane ( which is commonly called Catholike ) that is indeede the true Catholike Church ; for that all other Christian Churches that are in the world went first out of it , and beganne at some time in disobedience to that Church . ( And to shew this I willingly vse the Popes autority , that the enemys of the Catholike Church may see the truth , and lay a side their auersion from that holy seate which to the ruine of their soules they labour to disgrace ) This manner of inducing the verity of the Romane Catholike faith is as you see both according to the Apostles method , and by it the verity of all , and euery particular point of that faith is inferred . For that being once prooued to be the true Church , there needeth noe further proofe of any particular point which it teacheth , the true Church not being subiect to teach falsehood in particular doctrines ; but all whatsoeuer is taught by it is to be receiued for the authority of God soe speaking , and we are allwais to say I beleeue the Catholike Church . Yet in the other parts of the Christian doctrine when any points of controuersy in religion occurre , I giue satisfaction briefly in them also , as the Romane Catechisme doth ; but that which I desire most to satisfy in is the authority of the Romane Catholike Church prooued out of the first , second and ninth article of the Creede , and which may be vnderstoode by reading the ninth onely .

The third thinge which I labour for in Catechizing is edificatiō to good life , Esa. 27. for this is the end and fruite of all , to take away sinne We lay the foundation when we instruct in the Christian doctrine , and we build vpon it when we exhort to good life , this being the hight and perfection of our labors . Wherefor that you may not onely know speculatiuely what to beleeue ; but also how to apply practically that knowledge to the honour of God , and your aduancement in his grace , I haue annexed many things both out of the Romane Catechisme , and other authors , as also some examples of my owne certaine knowledge , which tende onely to deuotion . Thus I follow that methode which the Councell of Trent hath giuen vs to follow in the Discourses of the Romane Catechisme ; adding onely the Haile Mary in the beginning of euery Discourse , as a pious deuotion to implore the assistance of our B. Lady before any good exercise .

But because the Discourses of the Romane Catechisme were but few , as treating onely of fower subiects ( besides the praeamble which it hath of faith ) to wit of the Creede , of the Sacraments , of the Commandements , and of the Pater Noster : and those also somethinge obscure , as not being intended by the Councell of Trent , as a Catechisme immediatly to the people , but to pastors , to giue them examples how to Catechize ; and were therefor deliuered as intire speeches without titles , vntill Andreas Fabritius for more cleernesse added titles vnto them : therefor I haue treated of more subiects ; as first of the Obligation which all haue to learne the Christian Doctrine , of the Signe of the Cros , of the Masse , of the Aue Maria , of the Rosary , of the Praecepts of the Church , and of Sinne. And I haue destinguished the points which are treated in them by titles sufficiently connecting the former sense with that which followeth ; soe that I hope you will haue here the substance of the Romane Catechisme with that cleernes which Fabritius added vnto it , and also some other subiects in the same manner handled ; soe requisite for all to know , that this will appeare not onely a good , but a necessary booke .

As for the stile of Catechizing if it be plane and easy , it is propper and as it ought to be : and for this I haue laboured all that I could euen to the repearing of the same words often ouer of purpose for more cleernesse . That which I feare most is a weake and cold spirit which will appeare in many places of this booke ; but this must be supplyed by your more feruerous desire , and endeauour of profiting your selfe by it ; yet the iudicious will consider that tendernes of deuotion is not much obe expected where instruction is deliuered , much ●sse where controuersys and arguments in religion occurre . Yet these by the method of the Romane Catechisme could not be quite omitted , and the publike necessity of England did require that they should come forth more at large then was necessary onely for Catholike assemblys . Therfor for this booke to be more beneficiall , euery thinge is to be sought for in its propper place and nature ; Instruction and Exhortation where , and as intended , to wit , onely for Catholiks : and as for confirming the Catholike faith , he into whose hands it shall come , of whatsoeuer religion he be , if he desire indeede to serue God , and will pray to him , I hope he shall haue sufficient satisfaction .

Thus much for your direction in this worke , which at first I beganne without the least thought of publishing any thinge , but onely to discharge my obligation , which vntill then I had not soe well reflected vpon ; but beginning to obscrue a great ignorance in some , and obseruing it still more and more , and considering with my selfe how pertinent the words of the Apostle are , How shall they beleeue him whom they haue not heard ? Rom. 10 and how shall they heare without a preacher ? I conceiued this the best , and most profitable manner of preaching , and applyed my selfe most to the practise of it . And hauing vsed it for some yeares I founde it soe efficacious to that which I desired , that some of their owne accorde acknowledged to mee the benefit which they had receiued by it , and desiring mee to publish somethinge of it which they might haue to reade , I brought this booke to the perfection which it hath , and was many wayes encouraged to grant their desires , especially by the aduice of a graue and learned Prelate who first to approoue of my designe , told mee that if he himselfe were in England he would apply himselfe most to Catechizing : and hauing afterwards pervsed a great part of the Discourses , gaue mee most satisfaction in it . Finally for the right vnderstanding of all . I declare here that it is not my intention to giue examples vnto others how to Catechize . For that the Romane Catechisme hath done allready : neither would I vndertake soe much ( although for my Summe of the Christian doctrine I would willingly commende the vse of such an one gotten without booke and expounded as a foresaid ) My first intention is to instruct the ignorant , and for that I made choice of that forme which the Councell of Trent hath deliuered , and which was the sole scope , and marke which it aimed at by the Romane Catechisme : to wit , that Pastors should vse such Catechisticall sermons , as might be both a Catechizing for instruction , an exhortation to vertue , and in times of heresys might confute them , and confirme the Catholike faith . Which if it were practised as frequently as the holy Councell desired , and as other preachings are ( which are much lesse necessary for the people ) exceeding great profit , and a generall good might be expected by it .

That Catholike is very carelesse of himselfe , who with all this labour doth not learne and know that which is fitting , or at least necessary to be knowne . And that Catholike who knowe●h his duety to God , and hath it thus beaten into his minde , yet liueth as it were contemning of God , and of all remedys for his soule , that hauing sinned doth not endeauour to rise againe , and to aime at a new and vertuous life , but will continue in sinne , and resolue still to sinne , he deserueth not at all the name of a Catholike . And that Christian that professeth himselfe to beleeue in God , and to worship him in that faith and religion which Christ left to his Apostles , and was allwais according to the ninth article of the Creede to be in the Catholike Church ; yet will beginne a religion contrary to all the Christian Churches in the world , or beleeue in a religion which soe beganne , he deserueth not the name of a Christian . And that man that being sufficiently satisfyed of the true religion ( and Marke that I say sufficiently satisfyed : for euidence of reason is not to be relyed vpon in any religion ) yet will not professe it for temporall respects ; but goeth on with a guilty conscience in the profession of a false religion , or rather liueth like an Atheist , or beast without any religion at all , that man I know not how to call him . A miserable wretch he is , and of all creatures out of hell the most miserable , who to feede vpon the dung of the earth , sinneth against the Holy Ghost , hardening his hart willfully against all heauenly inspirations . For Atheists , and all false religions I haue said enough in the Creede : but for him that is neither in profession an Atheist , nor yet hath indeede any religion , I know what to say ; but to wish him to consider with himselfe of the power and goodnes of God , and of the euills of sinne that depriueth vs of him ; and let him reade the last Discourse where I treate somethinge of that subiect . If God of his mercy visit these men with some heauy Crosses , and great afflictions necessary to draw them to his seruice , it is indeede a singular mercy by which sometimes they are brought to repentance . But in the meane time I warne these hard harted men that they praesume not too farre , but that they thinke of their soules , and of death which in the end shall surprise them . And I will tell them one thinge which they thinke not of ; that is that they are in danger of suddaine death : not onely as all men are , but in particular more then others ; and that God hath shewed this by many examples in which such kind of men haue bene so punished . The example of Pharao and of thousands of the Aegyptians were enough to prooue this ; who hauing hardened their harts against the manifest light of God , were suddainly ouerwhelmed in the sea , and miserably perished . The like examples we haue in our Kingdome ( but ouer many ) of the suddaine deaths of those who against their consciences haue professed a false religion . I mention onely two which happened lately in two neere neighbors to the place where I haue liued for dinerse yeares . They had both bene Catholiks , and for plane loosnesse and liberty of life had forsaken the Catholike Church , and gone to the Protestant Churches , manifesting by many expressions the guilt of their owne consciences to their intimate freinds ; but continuing still dissembling in religion , the one of them as he was hunting fell from his horse , and died presently ; the other who had engaged himselfe further against the Catholike Church , and would take noe warning by his neighbors example , within a few yeares after hauing bene drinking about three or fower miles from home , in his returne was suddainly strucke with the paines of death , fell downe , and was carried away dead . It is ill dallying with God . Know thou and see , Hier. 2. that it is an euill and bitter thinge for thee to haue forsaken the Lord thy God , and that my feare is not with thee , saith the Lord of hosts . And in another place . Slacke not to be conuerted to our Lord , and differre not from day to day . Eccl. 5. For his wrath shall come suddainly , and in the time of vengeance he will destroy thee . Let bold praesumptuous men remember these words , and learne to feare God .