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The HISTORICAL CATECHISM.
Queſt.WHAT apple or fruit was it that Adam eat in Paradiſe, and thereby brought ſin and death upon him, and all his poſterity?
Anſw. It is uncert in, for the holy ſriptures mention it not; and authors vary in their opinions; ſome ſay it was a Perſian apple growing where Paradiſe was ſituated; others imagine it was a golden apple a cherry, or a pear: but the ancient Romans believe it was a muſk apple.
Q. What may be the reaſon why the devil ſhould aſ{{ls}ume the ſhape of a ſerpent above all other creatures, and that out of the Putrefaction of man’s body worms are produced?
A. Melanet n ſavs, from man’s being deluded by the ſerpent in Paradiſe, the devil delighted in that ſhape, and out of man’s corruption and the filth of his ſin, worms and ſerpents do pring: for man being prone to ſin, from the putrefaction of his body ſuch creatures are ingendered, as a mark of our original ſin.
Q. What account doth the ancient give of Babel?
A. It was the moſt famous ſtructure after Noah’s flood: for Nimrod perſauded the people to build a large and high edifice to reſiſt the fury of a ſecond deluge. They built this tower. 5164 paces from the ground: the going up was winding and broad, there being not only room for horſes and carts, but lodging for m n and beaſts with graſs and corn fields. And wonderful ’twas to conſider that but eight perſons came out of Noah's ark, this building was carried on by 500000 men, the foundation being nine miles round: but God confuſed their tongues, and put a ſtop to their work, one not being able to underſtand another, as expreſt by the poet. Bring me quoth one, a trowel quickly quick.
O e brings him up a hammer; hew this brick,
An ther bids, and then they cleave a tree;
Make faſt this rope, and then they let it fl e;
One calls for planks, another mortar lacks;
They bring th firſt a ſtone, the laſt an ax
One would have nails, and him a ſpade they give,
Another aſks a ſaw. and gets a ſieve!
Thus cross’d they call and rail in vain,
What one hath made another ſpoils again,
This made them leave heir work and like mad fools,
Scatter their ſtuff and tumble down their tools.
Q. Why were mens lives longer before Noah's flood than ſine?
A. as the world declines ſo does the natureof all
