A Catechism,

OR

SUMMARY EXPLANATION OF ALL THE ESSENTIAL DOCTRINES

OF THE CHURCH, CALLED THE

NEW JERUSALEM;

WITH

PROOFS FROM THE WORD AND THE EPISTLES.

"And these Words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.-Deut. vi. 6. 7.

DEDICATION.

MY DEAR CHILDREN,

After much reading and reflection, I have compiled the following Catechism, chiefly for the purpose of instructing you in the great truths of the Christian Religion.

you

not

I most affectionately charge you, therefore, that only commit this Catechism to memory, but that, comparing it with the Word of God, you endeavor to understand the heavenly doctrines therein contained, and reduce them to practice by a life in conformity thereto. Thus, will you not only secure my love and respect, but you will obtain, what is of infinitely more value to you, the divine love and protection of your Father in the heavens.

That this little work, the labor of love, may be made a blessing to each of you, by enlightening your understandings, and purifying your hearts, is the sincere prayer, of.

Your affectionate Father,

THE AUTHOR.

SPIRITUAL APHORISMS

FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS.

1. The idea of God, constitutes the inmost thought of all those who have any religion; for all things of religion and Divine worship have respect unto him: upon a just idea of God, therefore, is founded the universal heaven, and upon earth the universal church: and in general, all religion; and upon such idea, conjunction is effected with the Lord; and by conjunction, light, wisdom and eternal felicity.-See Ang. Wis. No. 13, and Pref. to Ap. Rev.

2. The Church existeth by virtue of the Word, and acquireth a nature and quality amongst men, according to their understanding of it.-Wh. H. 11.

3. There must, in all cases, be doctrine from the Word, to the intent that it may be understood.—A. C. 10582.

4. The doctrine of the New Church is derived solely from the literal sense of the Word, but the Word, in many parts is unintelligible without this doctrine.-See A. R. 898-A. C. 9025.

5. The sense of the letter of the Word, in many places, without doctrine, leads into error.— r.—A. C. 10,431. 6. True doctrine, by reason of the understanding of the Word, is like a beam of light in the dark, and as a directing post on the road.—U. T. 227.

7. They only are enlightened from the Word, who read it from the love of truth and goodness; not they who read it from the love of fame or honor, or from any selfish motive.-W. H. 11.

8. True doctrinals are nothing else than the means of arriving at good as an end; and the all of doctrine as to man,