 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |  |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
PREVIOUS CHAPTER - NEXT CHAPTER - HELP - GR VIDEOS - GR YOUTUBE - TWITTER - SD1 YOUTUBE  OR, INSTRUCTION FOR THE IGNORANT, Being a salve to cure that great want of knowledge which somuch reigns in young and old. prepared and presented to them in a plain and easy dialogue pitted to the capacity of the weakest. “My People perish for lack of Knowledge.” — Hosea 4:6. DEDICATION TO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN AND ABOUT BEDFORD, Walking in the Faith and Fellowship of the Gospel; Your Affectionate Brother and Companion in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ, Wisheth all Grace and Mercy by Jesus Christ. Amen. HOLY AND BELOVED, ALTHOUGH I have designed this little treatise for public and common benefit, yet considering that I am to you a debtor, not only in common charity, but by reason of special bonds which the Lord hath laid upon me to you-ward, I could do no less, (being driven from you in presence, not affection,) but first present you with this little book. Not that you are wanting in the things contained herein, but to put you again in remembrance of first things, and to give you occasion to present something to your carnal relations, that may be (if God will) for their awakening and conversion. Accept it, therefore, as a token of my Christian remembrance of you. Next, I present it to all those unconverted, old and young, who have been at any time under my preaching, and yet remain in their sins. And I entreat them also, that they receive it as a token of my love to their immortal souls. Yea, I charge them as they will answer it in the day of terrible judgment, that they read, ponder, and receive this wholesome medicine prepared for them. Now the God of blessing bless it to the awakening of many sinners, and the salvation of their souls, by faith in Jesus Christ. Amen. Yours, to serve you by my ministry (when I can) to your edification and consolation, JOHN BUNYAN Bunyan’S CATECHISM: OR, INSTRUCTION FOR THE IGNORANT. CHAPTER 1. OF GOD THE CREATOR, Question. How many gods are there? Answer. To the Christian there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we of him. 1 Corinthians 8:6. Question. Why is not the God of the Christians the God of them that are no Christians? Answer. He is their Maker and Preserver; but they have not chosen him to be their God. Acts 17:24 ; Psalm 36:6 Judges 10:14. Question. Are there then other gods besides the God of the Christians? Answer. There is none other true God but HE; but because they want the grace of Christians, therefore they choose not him, but such gods as will suit with and countenance their lusts. John 8:44. Question. What gods are they that countenance the lusts of wicked men? Answer. The devil, who is the god of this world; the belly, that god of gluttons, drunkards, and riotous persons; and idol pleasures and vanities, which are for the most part the gods of the young. John 8:44; Corinthians 4:4; Philippians 3:19; Exodus 32:6; 1 Corinthians 10:7; 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 John 5:21. Question. Who is a Christian? Answer. One that is born again, a new creature; one that sits at Jesus’ feet to hear his word; one that hath his heart purified and sanctified by faith which is in Christ. John 3:3,5,7; Acts 11:26; Acts 15:9; Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17. Question. How do you distinguish the God of the Christians from the gods of other people? Answer. He is a Spirit. John 4:24. Question. Is there no other Spirit but the true God? Answer. Yes, there are many spirits. 1 John 4:1. Question. What spirits are they? Answer. The good angels are spirits; the bad angels are spirits; and the souls of men are spirits. Hebrews 1:7,14; 1 Kings 22:21,22 ; Revelation 16:13,14; Acts 7:59; Hebrews 12:23. Question. How then is the true God distinguished from other spirits? Answer. Thus: No spirit is eternal but he no spirit is almighty but he, no spirit is incomprehensible and unsearchable but he. He is also most merciful, most just, most holy. Deuteronomy 33:27; Genesis 17:1; <19E503> Psalm 145:3; Micah 7:18; Job 34:17; 1 Samuel 2:2. Question. Is this God, being a Spirit, to be known? Answer. Yes, and that by his works of creation, by his providences; by the judgments that he executeth, and by his word. Question. Do you understand him by the works of creation? Answer. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handy-work;” so that the “invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made; even his eternal power and Godhead.” Psalm 19:1,2; Romans 1:20. Question. Do his works of providence also declare him? Answer. They must needs do it, since through his providence the whole creation is kept in such harmony as it is, and that in despite of sin and devils; also if you consider that from an angel to a sparrow, nothing falls to the ground without the providence of our heavenly Father. Matthew 10:29. Question. Is he known by his judgments? Answer. God is known by his judgments which he executeth; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Psalm 9:16. Question. Is he known, by his word? Answer. Yes, most clearly; for by that he revealeth his attributes, his decrees, his promises, his way of worship, and how he is to be pleased by us. Question. Of what did God make the world? Answer. Things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Hebrews 11:3. Question. How long was he in making the world? Answer. In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and on the seventh day God ended all his works which he had made. Exodus 20:11; Genesis 2:2. Question. Of what did God make man? Answer. The Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7. Question. Why doth it say, God breathed into him the breath of life? Is man’s soul of the very nature of the Godhead? Answer. This doth not teach that the soul is of the nature of the Godhead, but showeth that it is not of the same matter as his body, which is dust. Genesis 18:27. Question. Is not the soul then of the nature of the Godhead? Answer. No; for God cannot sin, but the soul doth; God cannot be destroyed in hell. but the souls of the impenitent shall be. Ezekiel 18:4; Matthew 10:28. GOTO NEXT CHAPTER - BUNYAN'S WRITINGS INDEX & SEARCH
 |
