REV. JAMES I. GOOD, D. D. Author of Historical Manual of the Reformed Church. His- Church. Etc. HEX 1904. CENTRAL PUBLISHING HOUSE, 1134-1138 PEARL ST., CLEVELAND, OHIO. PREFACE. THIS Heidelberg a HIS booklet is prepared as its name indicates to aid the pastor in catechization. The Catechism, gives the doctrinal statement of our religion, to this it adds also the historical. On account of the peculiar circumstances in which we live in America our children do not get the thorough instruction in the Bible that is given in Germany in the public schools; SO we have added to the catechism brief Bible-history. As every catechumen ought to know the history of his own church we have also added a brief history of our Reformed church. Both are arranged in sections so that regular lessons can be assigned. If, however, this additional instruction makes the committal of the catechism too great a labor, we have also placed in the book the Shorter Heidelberg Catechism by Rev. Prof. D. Van Horne, D. D., (the best of all the abbreviations of our Catechism) so that the learning of the answers may be made easier. We are greatly indebted to Prof. Van Horne for this kindness. These various additions make it the most complete aid to our catechism that has been published. Hoping that this book will prove helpful to pastors and be a messenger of God to lead souls in our catechetical classes to Christ, we prayerfully send it forth. |