The shorter catechism has been used for centuries as a teaching basis for an introduction to the doctrines of the Christian faith. This London pastor of the 17th century made extensive use of it to train his young people, and his explanation of the catechism has been an invaluable, classic work, reprinted many times over the centuries.

In the opinion of B.B. Warfield, the Westminster divines left to posterity not only ‘the most thoroughly thought out statement ever penned of the elements of evangelical religion’ but also one which breathes ‘the finest fragrance of spiritual religion’. Their most influential work, ‘The Shorter Catechism’, was intended as a teaching basis for an introduction to the Christian Faith. No London pastor made more effective use of it than Thomas Vincent (1634-1678) and when this ‘explanation’ was first published in 1674, John Owen, Thomas Watson along with 38 other signatories to the Preface, declared their belief that it would ‘be greatly useful to all Christians in general’.