Hercules Collins, An Orthodox Catechism: Being the Sum of Christian Religion, Contained in the Law and Gospel

Reformed Baptist Academic Press, 2014, 120 pgs.

Summary: Hercules Collins (1646/7-1702) a godly Baptist pastor in London took the venerable Heidelberg Catechism (1562) and brought it into line with The Second London Baptist Confession of 1689. His purpose was to provide the Calvinistic Baptist of England a catechism reflecting the orthodox Reformed tradition of the continent. He was especially concerned to prove that Baptists were Trinitarian and mainstream Reformed with the exception of their understanding of believers baptism and church and state issues.

The catechism has been modernized by Michael A. G. Haykin and G. Stephen Weaver, Jr.

Exemplar quote: Q. 1. What is your only comfort in life and death?

A. That both soul and body, whether I live or die, I am not my own, but belong wholly unto my most faithful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. By His most precious blood fully satisfying for all my sins, He has delivered me from all the power of the devil, and so preserves me, that without the will of my heavenly Father not so much as a hair may fall from my head. Yes, all things must serve for my safety and by His Spirit, also He assures me of everlasting life, and makes me ready and prepared, that from now on I may live to Him (pg. 41).

Detriments/Benefits: It contains a pithy and succinct defense of believers’ baptism which looks suspiciously like Fred Malone’s argument for the same. (Not that Malone would deny this.) Collins’ continental orthodoxy did not include jettisoning the Sabbatarianism of Westminster and Perkins.

In general the book is irenic, godly, doctrinal sound, and helpful. It might be a bit burdensome to memorize, but would lead to wholesome results.