PRINCIPLES and DUTIES OF CHRISTIANITY; BEING A FURTHER INSTRUCTION FOR SUCH AS HAVE LEARNED THE CHURCH CATECHISM. TOGETHER WITH SHORT AND PLAIN DIRECTIONS and PRAYERS PARTICULAR PERSONS, FAMILIES, THE LORDS's-DAY, FOR THE LORD's SUPPER, BY THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD, THOMAS, Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man. RECOMMENDED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING Reprinted for the Use of SUNDAY SCHOOLS; and fold by 1811. A FURTHER INSTRUCTION FOR SUCH AS HAVE LEARNED THE CHURCH CATECHISM. SECT. I. Of CONFIRMATION. 2 H Confirmation, I beg your affiftance, AVING notice to prepare myself för that I may know what I am going about, and what is expected from me? A. I will gladly affift you; and if indeed you defire to fave your foul, I will inftruct you after fo plain a manner, that you need not perish for want of knowledge, 2 I pray then let me know, why I am called to Confirmation. B A. That the church may be fatisfied you are a Christian out of choice, and not only because you were born in a Chriftian country. 2. Why must the Church be fatisfied of this? A. Because the Church is a Society of perfons profeffing to live in the fear of God, and expecting God's judgments, if any of their body do live in an open defiance of his laws, without rebuke. And therefore, for better fecurity, all its members are openly to declare their full purpose of living as becometh the Gospel of Chrift, which is the law they are to be governed by. 2. Is there any further benefit that I may hope for, by going to be confirmed? A. Yes; you may expect from that time, that God will daily increase his graces in you, if you heartily defire them: For the Bishop, with whom is the hand of God in all that he doth the name of Christ, prayeth for you: and by laying his hand upon you, doth certify you of God's favour and good-will towards you. And then if you know that this folemn way of laying on of bands, was from the Apostles of Jefus Chrift, you will have reafon to hope for much good from it; and to neglect it where it may be had, is to defpife God's mercy and favours. 2. I would therefore prepare myself for Confirmation, not only because the Church requires it, but because it will be my advantage to do fo. A. It will moft certainly: for the Christian profeffion, which you are going to take upon you, is the only thing which can make you eafy here, and safe hereafter. For it teacheth us, that though we are miferable, finful, helplefs creatures; though we have many and powerful enemies; yet by the favour of God, we may be fafe and happy. For by it we learn, that God defireth our welfare, and that he is able to do for us more than we can afk or think. It teacheth us what service God requires of us; how we may make our peace, when we have offended him by our fins; how dangerous it is to lead a careless life; and how happy God will make all fuch as ferve him to the best of their knowledge. 2. Why then fhould I not take upon myfelf the Chriftian profeffion? A. Only take with you the advice of Chrift.* Confider seriously what you are going to under take. Whether you can purpose in your heart to refift the temptations of the Devil, the World, 款 Luke xiv. 28. |