THE HEIDELBERG CATECHISM SIMPLIFIED

Preface

The following work is intended for children. To adapt it to this end, the author has end-eavoured to make its questions and answers as short as possible. It is based upon the Heidelberg Catechism, as will be readily perceived by every one who is familiar with this excellent summary of Christian doctrine, the contents of which it was intended fully to exhaust, whilst every thing beyond that was studiously avoided. The exact words of the original catechism have been retained in each answer as far as practicable, so that after this catechism has been once committed to memory, it will be a very easy matter to memorize the original catechism itself. All explanations and proof-texts have been purposely omitted, as not comporting with the present design. These are left to be supplied by the teacher, if thought desirable, or to be subsequently derived from the author’s “Exercises of the Heidelberg Catechism,” to the successful study of which this small catechism is intended to serve as a suitable introduction.

A work of the kind which it is attempted here to present, has long been a desideratum in the churches in which the Heidelberg Catechism is the authorized system of religious instruction. It has all along been felt that the catechism itself, in its original form, is too elaborate for children, and hence the general desire for something by which its excellent contents might be so simplified as to adapt them to their capacities. To meet this desire, has been the main object of the author in the preparation of the present little work; and if this object has been attained to any considerable extent, which it is hoped will be found to be the case, he will consider himself amply compensated for his present efforts to subserve the interests of children and promote the study of the catechism.

1. Lord’s Day

Q.—What is your only comfort in life and death?

A.—That I am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

Q.—With what do you belong to Christ?

A.—With body and soul.

Q.—When do you belong to Christ?

A.—Both in life and death.

Q.—What has Christ done for you?

A.—He has fully satisfied for all my sins and delivered me from all the power of the devil.

Q.—With what has Christ done all this for you?

A.—With His precious blood.

Q.—Does Christ do anything more for you, besides having satisfied for your sins and delivered you from the power of the devil?

A.—Yes; He also preserves me.

Q.—To what extent does He preserve you?

A.—So that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head.

Q.—Is what you have just said, the whole extent of Christ’s preserving care over you?

A.—No; it extends so far, that all things must be subservient to my salvation.

Q.—Does Christ do anything else for you?

A.—Yes; He also assures me of eternal life.

Q.—By what does He assure you of eternal life?

A.—By His Holy Spirit.

Q.—What more does He do for you by His Holy Spirit?

A.—He makes me sincerely willing and ready henceforth to live unto Him

Q.—How many things are necessary for you to know, that you may live and die happy?

A.—Three.

Q.—What is the first?

A.—How great my sins and miseries are.

Q.—What is the second?

A.—How I may be delivered from all my sins and miseries.

Q.—What is the third?

A.—How I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance.

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