John Willison (1680-1750), minister at Dundee, Scotland, was a prominent voice against the spiritual laxity of the mid-eighteenth-century Church of Scotland. Early in his ministry, Willison was instrumental in the revivals that occurred at Kilsyth. In later years, he spoke out against the increasing decline into moralistic preaching and away from the proclamation of free grace to sinners. Willison wrote an exposition of the Shorter Catechism, as well as a number of treatises and catechisms designed to foster devotional piety, inculcating Sabbath observance and meditation in preparation for the Lord's Supper. His catechism for small children, The Mother's Catechism, and several of his sacramental meditations, are still in circulation.
A proposal for young communicants, for expressly renewing the baptismal engagements, before their first admission to the Lord's table.
Question 1. What moves you to seek access to the Lord's table?
Answer. The Lord's command, and because I desire to renew my baptismal engagements, and declare myself a Christian by my own free choice and consent, and would join myself unto the Lord by my own voluntary act and deed.
Q. 2. Why do you desire to do so?
A. Because, when I got the first seal of the covenant, namely, baptism, I knew not what was done for me, nor was I capable to consent to my parents' deed; but now, when I am come to some knowledge and capacity, I am willing to declare, that I make religion my free choice, and reasonable service.
Q. 3. Why do you come so early? Will it not be soon enough to mind religion in old age?
A. No; for besides that I may die young, these who neglect religion, and give themselves up to the world, or the flesh in their youth, do fall into hardness of heart, from which few recover.
Q. 4. What is the most proper season to seek acquaintance with Christ and religion?
A. The time of youth, because in this age the heart is more easily melted, and the habits of vice are not so riveted as afterward; and because God has a special delight in early piety.
Q. 5. What views then have you got of your natural state and condition?
A. I do see it to be a most sinful, wretched, and helpless case; I am condemned to perish under a load of guilt and wrath, having broke the covenant of works, which I cannot fulfill, offended the justice of God, which I cannot satisfy, and lost the image of God, and my precious soul, which I cannot recover. O what shall I do to be saved?
Q. 6. Where do you look for relief?
A. Only to Jesus Christ, who hath, in his free love to lost sinners, undertaken as Surety and Mediator in the new covenant, which is exhibited and sealed to believers at the Lord's table.
Q. 7. What views have you got of that covenant which is there sealed?
A. I see the way of salvation laid down in it through the suretyship and righteousness of Jesus Christ, to be an excellent contrivance, well-ordered in all things and sure. I look upon it as a device every way worthy of God, and of infinite wisdom, and I do heartily approve of it, consent to it, and desire to come and venture my soul and eternal salvation upon it.
Q. 8. What think you of the love of God, that was the spring of this new covenant?
A. I view it as wonderful and amazing; I admire the love of the Father, in contriving and sending his beloved Son to execute it; I admire the love of the Son of God, in undertaking to be a Surety and sacrifice for lost sinners of Adam's race, when the sinning angels were passed by, and left to perish forever; and I admire the love of the Holy Ghost, in undertaking to apply that redemption to lost elect sinners, by working in them conviction, conversion, and faith in Jesus Christ.
Q. 9. With what disposition do you come to renew your baptismal covenant?
A. I desire to sense my guilt in breaking this covenant, in running away from Christ's flag, in going over to Satan's camp, and in standing so long out against Christ's calls and offers; and I desire now to return to the Lord as a penitent prodigal, and a mourning backslider, with my face toward Zion, weeping as I go, willing to renew my baptismal vows with others, saying, Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant never to be forgotten. And, in a word, I desire to go to a broken Christ with a broken heart.
Q. 10. What is that baptismal vow or covenant, which you design to renew?
A. According to my engagement and dedication in baptism, I desire expressly to own and acknowledge the only living and true God as my God in Christ, as he offers himself in the covenant of grace; and to give up myself, soul and body to him, to be for him and not for another. And I design, in the most solemn manner, to go and renounce all the enemies of the Holy Trinity, namely, the devil, the world, and the flesh; and to declare my acceptance of God the Father as my Father, of God the Son as my Redeemer, and of God the Holy Ghost as my Sanctifier; in whose blessed name I was baptized, and to whose service and glory I was dedicated.
Q. 11. What do you think of Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the covenant?
A. I think him a matchless Person, and an excellent and all-sufficient Saviour; and I am content to accept him in all his offices, namely, as a Prophet to instruct and teach me, as a Priest to atone and intercede for me, and as a King to rule in me and over me.
Q. 12. What do you think of your own righteousness and strength with respect to your salvation?
A. I look upon my own righteousness and strength as insufficient to answer the demands of God's law, and therefore I renounce them, and flee to a Surety for both, saying, In the Lord Jesus only have I righteousness and strength; and I am content and resolved to make use of a borrowed strength for my performing of duty, and of a borrowed righteousness for my acceptance in duty.
Q. 13. How do you like this self-denying way of saving lost souls?
A. I am well pleased with it, as it makes me an eternal debtor to free grace, as it doth exclude all boasting and glorying in the creature, and ascribes all the glory of my salvation to Christ only; as it takes the crown off the head of self, and puts it upon the head of glorious Christ.
Q. 14. How do you relish the kingly office of Jesus Christ?
A. I am well pleased therewith, and content to take Christ as a King to govern me by his laws, as well as a Priest to save me by his blood; nay, I am desirous he may come in as a King, and execute his kingly office in my soul; that he may set up his throne in my heart, subdue indwelling sin, and conquer all my rebellious lusts and corruption.
Q. 15. What view have you of the Holy Ghost, the third person in the Trinity, and of his office in the business of saving souls?
A. I look upon him as the blessed applier of Christ's purchase unto me, and do accept him as such; and I am willing to give up myself to him, to convince, enlighten, renew, sanctify and guide me; and I believe he is as willing and ready to make the application, as Christ was to make the purchase; and therefore I desire to trust him for this blessed effect.
Q. 16. What think you of the things of this world as a portion to the soul?
A. I look upon all its profits, honours, and pleasures, to be insufficient to suit the soul's desires, and that they are nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit; and therefore I will never set my heart upon the world as my portion: it is only the enjoyment of God reconciled in Christ, that can afford complete satisfaction to my soul; and this only I choose for my happiness and portion.
Q. 17. What do you think of the world to come?
A. I look upon it, and the things thereof, as awful, certain, and very near. I look upon hell as the eternal habitation of unbelievers; but I view heaven as the country and dwelling place of the followers of the Lamb, with whom I desire to join, to seek that country, and dwell with them forever.
Q. 18. What do you think of a holy and religious life?
A. I think a religious life, or a life spent in the service of God, and in communion with him, the most pleasant and comfortable life that a man can live in the world.
Q. 19. How do you think to attain to holiness for living this life?
A. I look upon Jesus Christ as the Purchaser of holiness as well as of happiness, as he, who, by his death, hath obtained the Holy Spirit to effectuate the new birth, and form the image of God in his people; and therefore desire to come to Christ and his blood for sanctification, as well as for justification; for conformity and likeness to God, as well as for access to fellowship and communion with God, and I will plead, that he may send his Holy Spirit unto my soul, for producing holiness, and all the graces of the Spirit.
Q. 20. What view have you got of the promises of the covenant, and their usefulness?
A. I look upon them as the ground of all my faith and hope, and I desire to make daily use of them, and to plead them with God for strength to perform every duty, and for perseverance in all the steps of my pilgrimage; and I resolve to have recourse to him in every strait and difficulty.
Go to the next installment:
The Young Communicant's Catechism: Part II