MILK FOR BABES ; OR , A. MOTHERS CATECHISM for Her CHILDREN .

Wherein chief saving Principles of Christian Religion , through the body of it , fit first to inform Children in ; are 1 Propounded . 2 Expounded . 3 Applied .

The sum of which is set down in the following Pages ; Together with the Questions and Answers which are the grounds of the Catechism .

Whereunto also annexed , THREE SERMONS ; Preached at Andrews Holborn at a publike Fast , and at Covent-Garden , upon severall occasions .

By ROBERT ABBOT Preacher of Gods Word at Southwick in Hantshire .

LONDON , Printed by John Legate for Philemon Stephens , dwelling in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the gilded Lyon . 1646.

1 Question .

WHo made thee ?

A. God the Father .

2 Q. Who redeemed thee ?

A. Jesus Christ .

3 Q. Who sanctified thee ?

A. The Holy Ghost .

4 Q. How many Gods are there ?

A. There are three persons , and to us Christians but one God .

5 Q. What is God ?

A. He is that Almighty one , who made and governeth all things .

6 Q. Wherefore did God make thee ?

A. To do him service .

7 Q. How oughtest thou to serve him ?

A. As he hath commanded in his lawes ?

Question .

GIve me the summe of Religion in one sentence ?

A. A sinner , being justified by faith , is bound to live a godly life .

MAdam , I must make my Apology before I say a word more . I present a Catechism unto you who are able to instruct others : and a mothers Catechism for her children , when you have no children of your own under your instruction now . This may seem strange to them that know not you to be to me a great encourager to this little work : & to them that are ignorant of your affections to a common good : You have had experience of the power , and profit of it in your family , and in the Congregation over which you care ; and you will have me do some little good by it ( as you think ) to others that may see , and use it . The blessing of God be upon it : and their blessing fall upon you ( if they receive good by it ) who have bin the main cause , under God , of my setting it forth . I confesse that I have , thus many yeares last past , been solicited , by many well minded people , ( who have had the benefit of my private exercises ) to have let this unpolished birth to walk into many houses ; But being loath to hold out a little candle to a quick-sighted age ; or to prevent the more elaborate endeavours of my learned brethren , I have shut it up , rather in my head , where it stuck by judgment , and frequency ; then under my pen , which is not so happy as my tongue , in this kinde . But now being overcome by your Ladyships entreating-commands , and commanding favours ; I can hold it a prisoner , no longer . I let it loose from my head and heart , to my pen , and paper , and from thence to every English soul , to be either embraced , or rejected according to present fansie . If it prove un-successefull , I 'le bear the blame ; who , as an old man being ready to deny my self a being in this world , have a little learned to deny my self in this , and suffer words of diminution : But if it prove acceptable to Christs Church , and profitable to his meanest Members ; you ( Madam ) shall have the thanks , and credit , under whose wings it hath found leisure to be born . I know that you will be cōmending it to some of your friends , if not out of self-worth , yet out of a conceit and expectation of some such like thing . But , I beseech you be wary . To praise that which deserves it not , may speak well of your affections , but discommend your judgment : and I would not have you engage where it may be a prejudice to you in the issue . Indeed , this little Treatise is a Catechism . And whereas preaching is a speaking unto men to instruction , 1 Cor. 14.3 Luk. 1.4 . Act. 2. Mat. 22.37 Joh. 3.16 . edification , and comfort ; Catechising is a speaking to men for instruction mainly : preaching is a dilating of one member of religion into a body ; Catechising is the contracting of the whole into a a sum : Preaching is for all sorts ; Catechising for the yong , and ignorant : this may commend the work , if the workman were answerable , and , as a Master-builder did lay the foundation . But I know not how it fals out ; this Treatise is much , in a little , and that little derived from the capacitie of a mother , to the capacity of a child : & therfore can promise nothing , but poornesse of judgement , and plain-nesse of affections .

Whether it be worthy others view or no , it will be acceptable to them that love and desire it ; and so , I humbly present it to you ( Madam ) . Though you have no children of your own , but they that are above these instructions ; yet have you many grand-children , whom , like Olive-branches , you rejoyce to see about your table . These , it may be , may be under them , and by the use of this book , grace may by little & little , drop like dew upon them . Be but as you are , like Timothy his mother and grand-mother ( who trained him from a childe in the Scriptures ) to train them up in undoubted principles , as often as they come about you ; and they will , in after time , thank God that they had such a grand-mother . I pray to our good God , that this little Book may but help you a little ; and it hath done all the work I can expect from you .

Be pleased but to take notice of of the honourable work of Catechising , and of the fruit of it . Catechising is very high-born . Before the floud , Adam catechized Abel . ● eb . 11.4 . For it is said that Abel offered hyfaith : and faith embraceth a word : therefore , when there was none written ; it must be by Adams catechising Abel , as he had learned of God . After the floud , Gen. 14.14 Gen. 17.1 . Abraham had his catechised servants : Gen. 18.18 . & we finde his Catechism to be the sum of the law : and the sum of the Gospel : which had such sweet fruit upon his family , Gen. 24.63 that his son went out to pray , and was willing to submit to be sacrificed : Gen 22. and his servant prayed when he was about his work , Gen. 24.12 26.33 . Gen. 14. gives thanks when he found successe , and wil not eat before he hath done his Masters busines : yea , all his servants , at his word , were ready to hazard their lives in Lots rescue . In the time of the Law , God commanded to whet the Word upon their children by catechising : Deut. 6.7 . in which they were so punctual , that under persecuting Antiochus , and after to Christ , the Rabbies report in Ierusalem , not fewer then 400. houses for catechising . This made the Iews know the Scriptures as perfectly as their own names , wheras most amongst us know scarcely the names of the Scriptures . Luk. 1.4 . Act. 18. In the time of the Gospel , as Theophilus , and Apollos were catechised : Gal. 6.6 . so God appointeth a great reward for Catechizers , even to be made partakers of all our goods . Now , for the fruit of Catechising ; certainly it brings a more distinct knowledge of the grounds of religion ; a good entrance to eat the stronger meat of the Scriptures ; & to learn us to make an Hedge of Divinity , to enclose , all our readings , & hearings from the word , within their proper bounds , for the setling of our judgments , and raising up our affections insuperably . This was seen well enough of old . Therefore an Ancient hath observed , that , by vertue of Catechising , there was never a King in the world , but suffered alteration in his Heathenish Religion within forty years after Christ : and the greatest enemy that ever the Christian Religion had ( Iulian the Persecuter ) , left off inventing of torments , and put down Schools of Learning , and Catechisings , the onely ways to build up Christianitie . By how much more honourable it is , and by how much excellent use it hath had , by so much the more ( Madam ) love , respect , and countenance it in all yours .

I confesse that this work will help but a little , very little : but better a little , then nothing at this excellent work . We finde in these distracted times , the foundation mightily deserted , and some of them shaken : but super-structives , yea antistructives to be pegged up to the highest strains : In which respect it may be said of us , as of the old Philosophers , and newer Schoolmen , that the noyse of their disputations so filled the ears of God , that he could not hear their prayers : and even so ( I fear ) may it be said of us . It behoves us , therfore , to elevate the sure grounds , & to call home to absolute necessaries , lest in finding barks ; we lose trees : and maintaining twigs ; we lose the sap and comfort of the root . As I began with an Apology , so I had need end with one for my length , but that I am very well assured of your religious love , and patience to him , who is ( Madam )

WOrthy Ladies , though I have dedicated my ensuing tract ( as I am bound ) to my Noble Patronesse ; yet can I not but write a word , or two , to you both . After dedications , custome hath prevailed to draw out an Epistle to the Readers : and because I know not who will read my Book ; or , if I did , I had little to say to them , but wish them and theirs as much good as I intend by it : Therefore , because I am sure , that if it fall into either of your hands , you will reade , and reade , and make use of it , for the benefit of your good children ; I cannot but expresse my intentions fully to you both . God hath set you in high places above many others : and though the Waves have gone over you , and ( it may be causelesly ) have entered into your souls , by losses , crosses , and vexations in great proximity to you both ( though to one more then to the other ) : yet , as when the Mountains appeared upon the slacking of the floud , the Ark rested upon the top of them , and Noah could easily espie them , when other hillocks , trees , and shrubs lay covered with waters : so when the waters of your miseries lessen , and by the favour of God and man , are dried up , you stand aloft , and the Church can look earnestly at you , when others yet lye under a cloud of sinne , and sorrow . I humbly beseech you therefore , that , seeing men and women are like Jaacobs sheep , which conceived by the eye , all gazers may see you so to steer your courses , that they may behold in you both examples of fortitude to out-face the daring world ; of wisdom , to bridle tongues , & affections in evill times ; and of confidence to live above the highest waves in the rock of your salvation . God seems to smile upon us a little with the sweet beams of peace , thorough a thick cloud , and it is to be hoped , that God hath other graces in you to be acted in such a time , for your edification , walking in the fear of the Lord , and comfort of the holy Ghost , as the Churches of Judea did , when they had rest round about . But whether he storm you still with the fear of war , and bloud-shed ; or wrap you up in the sweet swadling bands of peace ; you are aloft , even both of you above your neighbors , to be made a spectacle to the world , angels , and men . Therefore let the counsell of a poor friend be acceptable unto you so to live that ye be not swallowed up of sorrow , so to live , as ye be not devoured by peace . As it was said of Saul and David of old , so may it of prosperity , and adversity , that adversity hath slain 1000. but prosperity 10000. It is a glorious thing to be in prosperity , and not to be worse . It is a glorious thing also to be in adversity and to be better . But to be bad in both is to make both a curse : prosperity , to be made a sweet Ladder from which to break our necks from , when we think we are climbed up to heaven : and adversity to be a sowr Ladder to let us down into hell here , and to bring us at last to the burning Lake which torments for evermore . The only way to help all this is , both in prosperity , and adversity , to live in Christ . If like the Eagles you make your Nest in this rock , your faith shall be your victory .

Page . Line . for , Read . 78 15 life , lift . 79 9 blot out then . 89 25 of , in . 110 3 doth , teacheth . 119 3 faith , life . 122 19 of , by . 122 23 wife , house . 122 24 work in , work it in . 124 5 where they , whereby they . 125 6 connexion , conviction . 159 17 The , by the. 163 28 In obedience , In sacrifice . 186 1 must , mayst . 198 21 of both , for both . Epistle . 19,20 Infants of Jews Believers . 242 6 creatures , Creatour .