First , a conditionall necessitie , and that , first to manifest unto others , what obedience is due , and what respect hath beene given here , to those Soveraigne commands of such , who with Princely providence and fatherly care , doe or lately did sway the Scepter of this state : under King Henry 8. See the Acts and Monuments of the Church . it was ordained , that Curates in their Sermons should deliberately and plainly goe over the Pater noster , Creed and Commandements , one clause or Article one day , and another , another day ; till the whole were taught and learned by little and little , and that they should deliver the same in writing . And after — that fathers and mothers , masters and governors of youth should teach or cause to bee taught their children and servants , even from their infancy , the Pater-noster , Creed and Commandements in their mother tongue : and the same so taught should cause the said youth oft to repeat and understand . Vnder Edward the sixt , I finde it enjoyned — That the Creed , Lords Prayer , and ten Commaundements should bee read in English every Holy-day : that the people should bee exhorted not only to learne them themselves , but also to teach them to their children and family ; that once a yeere all their Parishioners should be examined therein , and that none should presume to come unto the Lords Table ( let all Ministers take notice , to see this order , which by the Law of God ought , and by the lawes of our Land may be , observed in every Parish ) without a true knowledge thereof : the same for substance during the Raigne of that renowned Queene Elizabeth , King Iames , and his Majestie that now is , renewed still , continued and confirmed : notwithstanding all this , lamentable it is to observe , how the neglect of this dutie increaseth daily ; especially there , where nothing , or as nothing , is done the later part of the Lords day ; secondly , to render you your owne , as God commands , some testimony of thankfulnesse , for your ready and continuing love ( more worth then wealth ) since my first comming amongst you : what the good Shunamite did for Elisha : 2 Kings 4.10 . you have doubled to me every way ; and behold now , you have been thus carefull for mee , with all this care , what is to be done for you ? lesse I could not , and more you expect not , dwelling contentedly among your owne people , then meanes to further your salvation ; the Lord grant his Word may be in that powerfull and plaine evidence of the Spirit delivered , as that many sonnes and daughters may bee borne unto Christ amongst you . Thirdly , to save the wearisome labour of transcription ; called upon we have beene lately and begun , to goe over the same againe ; this benefit the Presse affoards ; not only to communicate with ease , but also to prevent some inconveniences might happen both to you and mee , by reason of many imperfect Copies abroad , which cannot be recalled , not otherwayes over-mastered , now if any thing be amisse , it may be amended , if any point obscure , it may be explained , or if in any part deficient , a supply may bee added . Fourthly , to minde men and women of that solemne vow and promise made at the Font , in their behalfe , for whom they become sureties , to teach or see they be taught , the use and end of Baptisme , the Creed , Lords Prayer , and ten commandements in the English tongue , with all other things , which Christians ought to know and doe for their soules health , and that they be vertuously brought up , &c. which many , I feare , undertake rashly as a matter of forme and complement , never thinking of it after . Fifthly , to point out a common calamity which I find rife in every place ; many old people have no other religion , nor ground for salvation , but what consists in a bare and ( often ) senselesse repetition of this Cathechisme , not finding , but making it a prayer , hoping only in the grace of regeneration by Baptisme , never thinking of , nor endeauouring to performe the conditions , exprest in the administration of this Sacrament . Sixthly , in desire at least to redeeme , many precious houres mispent in wanton prodigalitie which ( blessed be the Lord ) I live to bewaile , and make some verball satisfaction , for reall wrongs , I remember , done to others , by enticement , silence , example , &c. which to persons remote and disperst cannot else be effected : as also to repay somthing to the poore and ignorant , in lieu of what I received from the richly-learned : a number of good helps I found and would not lessen them ; learning as lands , concealed is forfeit , the talent hid is lost ; riches are counterfeit , if not currant , so as a portion may successively fall to every mans share ; who knowes what good , weakest endeavours may doe to the Church unborne ? whose papers shall longest escape the devouring teeth of time and tyrannie ? or what dismall cloud of Popish darkenesse ( which the Lord prevent and keepe off ) may in after times once againe overspread this British I le , to lash our wantonnesse and make our people , prize more the meanes of knowledge ? when courser fare will be more esteemed , then dainties now .

Secondly , a purpose and desire I had ( If the Lord should remoove mee from you ; a crazie body , and the daily departure of others , my deare friends and neighbours , minde mee often of mortalitie ) to leave remaining with you , who have beene either called or confirmed by my ministry , the summe of all , which I have at severall times delivered ; not without presidents ; Saint Matthew having preacht to the Iewes , and being called to the Gentiles ( as Bellarmine interprets Eusebius ) deemed it profitable to leave ( and that in his owne countrey language ) some memoriall of his doctrine with them , from whom hee was to depart in body : Bellar. lib. 4. de verbo Dei non scrip . cap. 4. out of Eusebius lib. 3. hist. Eccles. cap. 21. The same is confirmed by Epiphanius and Nicephorus , adding it was absentiam scripto compensare ; I wish all Ministers would so recompence their wilfull absence . Such was the care and practice of Saint Peter , 2 Peter 1.14 , 15 knowing that shortly I must put off this tabernacle , I will endeavour , that you may be able after my decease , to have these things alwayes in remembrance : if good bookes abound , instead of Cards and Dice , it will proove both exemplary and beneficiall to you and yours ; necessitie is laid on vs in publike , and woe be unto you , if private duties be neglected ; every governour hath a charge to teach as well as feed : your wives , children , servants must be instructed out of the word , else what doe you for them , more then to your irrationall labourers ? so Iosephus lib. 2. cont. Apion , according to a continuing practice of his countreymen , who point children at five yeeres , to the Bible . Hilarius in Psal. 118. or 119. referring to that place , 2 Tim. 3.14 , 15 , 16. Chrysost. in Col. Hierom highly commends certaine godly Matrons of his time , by name , Paula , Algasia , Marcella , Laeta , Fabiola , &c. as by his Epistles to them appeares , for such spirituall employments in their families . Servulus is noted and laid downe for a patterne by Gregory , one Iosephus by Epiphanius , Theodorus by Cassianus , Cornelia by Cicero , &c. but Abraham and the Baereans by the Spirit of God , Timothy by Paul , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. therefore let no prophane person ignorant of antiquitie , censure private duties , as Puritanicall novelties ; nor any feare , such labours can be in vaine in the Lord .

Thirdly , it was not the last nor least part of my care , to leave these thus legible , for a helpe unto my partner ( a meet helper and a true Israelite ) in performance of her duty toward our family ; as beeing if the Lord call mee from them , the greatest legacie and love-token , I am like to leave them .

Master W. Crompton of the Grange in Bedford neere Leigh in Lancashiere . Lastly , a hope , these notes would bee welcome , pleasing and profitable to one , unto whom I owe , next unto God my Father in Christ , what I have or am : if by any meanes I might supply that want of service , which distance of place and necessary absence inevitably occasioneth not without griefe .

Other and better helps , I know , are extant , many ; the very same points handled farre more exactly , by divers , only this you may call your owne : wherein some things toucht by others ; about the attributes and decrees of God , the nature and order of being and subsisting in the B. Trinitie ; about Angels , Originall sinne , Ecclesiasticall orders , Offices , Discipline and seperated soules , &c. are omitted : the rest bee you pleased to accept , with the same hand they are offered , and I shall the lesse feele or feare what others censure ; all I seeke from you for all , is practice : if any poore soule be convinc'd , confirmed , comforted or instructed in any point of our Religion or religious dutie , I shall deeme it a rich recompence : all I would say unto you more , is by way of advise : content not your selves with meere civill honestie , let not formalitie delude you ; search to finde out all your sinnes , French , Spanish , English , what you confesse , bewaile and reforme , the Lord will cover and pardon : build not your faith upon a morrall change , iudging your selves good enough , because not so bad as formerly ; give all diligence to make your calling and election sure , rejoycing most , when you have got any assurance your names are written in heaven : let mee beseech you by the tender mercies of God in Christ , that you study to adorne your profession , with pious practice ; let your light so shine with unblemisht brightnesse before men , that they may see your good works and bee ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ ; slanderously reporting that wee are all for faith and nothing for obedience . Bee thankefull for the meanes of grace ; for your preservation from deserved judgements ; such I meane , as doe usvally befall populous places ; by fire and the plague of pestilence ; for your plentie and prosperitie , that your soules may prosper as your bodies doe ; for the mercy of God showed unto his Church beyond the Seas , by the hand of that renowned Prince the King of Sweden , praying for accomplishment in his time .

3. In election of capitall Burgesses , whence principall officers are annually called to governe your societie , let private , carnall ends be set aside , that so you may joyntly ayme at the publike good ; as you desire the glory of Christ , the advancement of his truth , and to stand with comfort before his judgement seat at the last day , pitch on such as are able to doe him best service ; say they be not so rich or great in kinred as others , yet they will bring more credit and profit to your companie , then any other ; as being the props of nature , the noblest ; of the world ( so Schoolemen call them ) and are so respected where Christ is honoured ; who did himselfe , and taught us , to preferre our spirituall , before our carnall kinred .

4. For your Worke-house , I should reioyce to see it as full as your Schoole-house ; One of the Iudges in his charge this last Assizes , proposed Dorchester for a patterne to these parts . enough you may finde , may it please you , mercifully to stop your eares sgainst the deceitfull cries of fond parents , and to send your eyes abroad into the high wayes , to compell them to come in : a matter it is of great consequence , as that which will proove an ease unto your selves , in regard of that ( other wayes inevitable ) burden , by poore people daily increasing , an honour to your societie , a benefit to the state , and a good meanes to enlarge Christs kingdome : omit not such an opportunitie , delay not duties , death is at hand .

5. Let the priuate exercise of recalling , reading , prayer and catechising bee more generally and constantly obserued : the later part of Saturday ( which some of our ancestours made a vacation , for better preparation to the day following ) and such parts of the Lords day , as remaining before and after publike employment , may be profitably spent that way : to the furthering of which good end , I hope it will please the Lord to put it into the hearts of some of you , to honour him with part of his substance , by building another Church , or Chappell , for those poore people ( I feare many ) who cannot when they wcd finde roome to stand within the fold : while you haue opportunity , doe good and defer not all till death .