The Description and the Benefits of a Regular Education A SERMON Preach'd in the Cathedral Church of St. PAUL AT THE Anniversary Meeting OF THE GENTLEMEN Educated at St. Paul's School January 25th 1699 1700. Published at the Request of the Stewards By Samuel Bradford Rector of St. Mary le Bow and Chaplain in Ordinary to His Majesty London Printed by William Redmayne and to be Sold by John Nutt near Stationers hall 1700. TO MY HONOURED FRIENDS AND School-Fellows THE STEWARDS OF St. Paul's School Feast John Tully Esq Richard Robinson Esq Richard Crawley Gent. Richard Lloyd Gent. Anthony Smith Gent. Robert Paltock Gent. Edward Nelthorpe Esq Dr. Thomas Sutton 2 Timothy III. 14 15. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learn'd and hast been assur'd of knowing of whom thou hast learn'd them and that from a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures THese are the Words of St. Paul that excellent Apostle whose Memory we this Day justly celebrate We whose Ancestors were Sinners of the Gentiles to whom he was particularly ordain'd a Preacher and an Apostle and a Teacher in Faith and Verity We who inhabit an Island 1 Tim. 2.7 to which 't is probable that this Apostle brought the first glad Tidings of Christianity and finally We who besides our general Obligation as Christians are now assembled upon a more particular occasion also to bless God for our Education in a School which bears his Name where we learn'd as many other good Lessons so particularly those which this great Apostle taught and were in out Childhood daily exercis'd in reading the Holy Scriptures in the writing of which our Apostle had so considerable a part It would add mightily to the Solemnity of our present Assembly and strangely increase the Joy of it if on this Day and in this Place we could have St. Austin's wish granted us to hear St. Paul speaking from the Pulpit to us But since that cannot be I judg'd it might prove both to our Satisfaction and Edification to entertain our selves with meditating upon some of his Words and those too such as he might probably have himself utter'd to us if he had been here present with us exhorting us to continue in the things which we have learn'd c. They were written to Timothy whom as St. Paul had taken along with him whilst he was yet Young first to attend and afterwards to assist him in Preaching the Gospel so finding him extraordinarily qualified he appointed him to abide at Ephesus to settle and govern the Church planted there and to do the Office of a chief Pastor or Bishop in that City And whereas there were certain Seducers started up whom our Apostle describes as Men equally vitiated in their Judgments and their Tempers v. 8. Men of corrupt Minds and reprobate concerning the Faith so in opposition to these and as the Duty of his Office he frequently admonisheth Timothy to continue stedfast himself and to endeavour that others should do so in the Profession of that Faith which he had receiv'd 1 Tim. 6.20 2 Tim. 1.13 14. 2 Tim. 2.2 Thus O Timothy keep that which is committed to thy trust and again Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me That good thing which was committed unto thee keep and lastly The things which thou hast heard of me among many Witnesses the same commit thou to faithful Men who shall be able to teach others also all which Passages as well as that in our Text do evidently refer to that Formulary of Faith call'd by the Writers of the following Ages The Rule of Faith which was committed both to those who were enter'd into the Christian Church by Baptism and to the Bishops and Pastors of it at their Ordination and is the same in effect with that which we now call the Apostles Creed This especially with whatsoever other particulars for the farther explication of this Rule of Faith Timothy had at any time heard and learn'd of St. Paul or any other of the Apostles he exhorts him to retain Continue thou in the things which thou hast learn'd And hast been assur'd of the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the vulgar Latin reads it credita sunt tibi as if it had been in the Copy they made use of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but to keep to those Copies which our Translators follow'd the Word here us'd carries in it a fuller sense importing that Timothy had not only receiv'd the things here spoken of by hearsay but been fully inform'd and upon considering the information entirely satisfied upon solid and good grounds of the truth of those things which he had learn'd and accordingly it follows knowing of whom thou hast learn'd them If it be read as in our Copies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the singular number it must denote St. Paul if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the plural as the Alexandrian Manuscript has it it must take in one more at least probably Barnabas St. Paul's Companion but whether one or more it matters not since the Persons he intimately convers'd with had been Eye and Ear Witnesses of the things which they taught and were of known Veracity and Probity St. Paul to be sure was one of them who was intimately known to Timothy and had upon all occasions testified an especial regard to him so that it could not be imagin'd that he would impose upon him Besides that he himself upon account of his miraculous conversion to the Christian Faith was a more than ordinary Witness to it Such were the Persons of whom Timothy had learn'd and from a serious consideration of what they had taught him he became assur'd Now was this all but he had yet a farther advantage both in order to his embracing and being confirm'd in the Faith of Christ namely that he had known the Scriptures from his very Childhood by the Piety of those who had the care of his tender Years which Scriptures viz. those of the Old Testament gave abundant evidence to the Doctrine of the Apostles and were a standing Testimony to what they taught Having thus explain'd the Words we may observe in them these Three Particulars very proper to be consider'd upon this Occasion First The view which they give us of a just and regular Education Secondly An Intimation contain'd in them of something necessary on the part of the Learner as well as of the Teacher And Thirdly The great Obligation which such Persons are under who have been well instructed and assur'd of those things which they have learn'd to continue in them First We have here a view given us of a just and regular Education in the instance of Timothy to whom the Words are directed He had known St. Paul tells him the Holy Scriptures from a Child no doubt by the pious care of his Grandmother and Mother mention'd by our Apostle a little before 2. Tim. 1.5 where commending the unfeigned Faith which was in him
it were led by the hand into the right way and custome and exercise have render'd their duty easy and pleasant to them so that they have nothing farther to do but to persevere in a strait course turning neither to the right hand nor to the left 'T is difficult and discouraging to begin to learn the Art of living when we are grown into Years and to be forc'd to break off evil Customs and Habits which we have been long contracting though this is absolutely necessary if we have been so unhappy as not to begin sooner but nothing can be more easy nothing more delightful than to follow the Instructions which have been early given us and frequently inculcated upon us which we our selves have been made to understand and approve and to persevere in those Habits which we have been accustom'd to from our tender Years Whereas on the other Hand we cannot forsake the Instructions of our Youth nor depart from the good Ways in which we have been us'd to walk without contradicting our own Judgments offering violence to our Consciences disturbing the Peace of our Souls and filling them with constant Regret and Horror nor finally without exposing our selves to the highest displeasure of Almighty God and the severest Punishment from his Hands Heb. 6.7 8 9. For as the Apostle to the Hebrews elegantly makes the Resemblance The Earth which drinketh in the Rain which cometh oft upon it and bringeth forth Herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed receiveth Blessing from God But that which beareth Thorns and Briars is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned But beloved we are perswaded better things of you and things that accompany Salvation though we thus speak Give me leave to conclude all with applying very briefly the Exhortation in the Text to our selves under the Three following Denominations I. To those amongst us who are devoted to any Spiritual Office or Employment in the Church of Christ As the Exhortation was here given to Timothy Bishop of the Church of Ephesus so it concerns all the Bishops and Pastors of the Church in every Age to continue in the things which they have learn'd and been assur'd of The Special Occasion of this Admonition as I observ'd before was the starting up of some false and dangerous Teachers who endeavour'd to corrupt both the Faith and Manners of Christians The Apostle compares them to Jannes and Jambres who withstood Moses V. 8. in like manner these also resisted the Truth who were as he adds Evil Men and Seducers V. 13. deceiving and being deceived And I am afraid there is too much Occasion upon the same Account for the like Admonition in our Days also There are arisen up amongst us Men of corrupt Minds and Reprobate concerning the Faith Men that have presum'd boldly and wantonly to dispute against the antiently receiv'd and establish'd Doctrines of Christianity making their shallow Conceptions the Measure of divine Revelation and haughtily disdaining to believe what they cannot fully comprehend nay there are some who have not only corrupted but denyed the Faith to whom the holy Scriptures cease to be sacred and the inspired Penmen are become of no authority who make it their business to cavil at what they do not understand and to expose to contempt what they have never consider'd and what during the affected levity of their tempers they are uncapable of considering who having first deviated from the Practice of Christianity accounting its Rules of Life and manners too strict are forc'd afterwards for the ease of their minds to throw off it's very Principles too in a word who not only like those of whom St. Paul complains in this Chapter V. 5. have denyed the Power but also lay'd aside the very form of Godliness who have in effect renounc'd their Baptism and broke loose from all the Obligations of their Education We ought therefore not only to be stedfast our selves but to make it our care also to establish as much as in us lies the Flock committed to our Charge We have learn'd and upon good grounds been assur'd of the things which we profess we know of whom we have learn'd them namely of the Inspir'd Penmen of the holy Scriptures those sacred Books which we have taken as the Rule of our Faith and Practice and Doctrine and from which thorowly consider'd we have wherewith to stop the Mouths of all gainsayers II. I may apply the same Admonition to all of us as Christians It is our duty as such firmly to adhere to the Form of Sound Words deliver'd to us at our Baptism and to be true and faithful to the solemn Vow and Promise then made in our Names which those of us who are come to years of Discretion have as it may be presum'd taken upon our selves We know of whom we have learn'd these things namely of our blessed Saviour and his Apostles by the help of those sacred Books which lie open before us for our constant instruction and direction and in the due use of which we may arrive to a well grounded assurance upon the same Principles and Reasons upon which Timothy was assur'd of what he had learn'd 'T is to be hoped we have all of us been carefully instructed in them from our Childhood and it becomes us to make them our daily Study that by a thorough acquaintance with them we may be fortifyed against all the attempts of such as would either shock our Belief or vitiate our Practice III. Let me in the last place apply this Admonition to those of us who have had our Education at St. Paul's School A School that makes good the Inscription upon it's Walls viz. Schola catechizationis puerorum in fide Christi Opt. max. bonis literis which as it was designed by it's Pious and learned Founder heretofore a Dean of this Cathedral Church to these excellent purposes so by the faithful and diligent management of it's worthy Overseers the Worshipful Company of Mercers it has been constantly blest with a succession of excellent Masters Persons eminently skill'd in their Profession and thorowly qualifyed to instruct those committed to their charge So that we may upon this account also say that we know of whom we have learn'd There we were early taught the Principles of True Religion and the Rudiments of good Learning There we daily read the Holy Scriptures and were frequently Catechis'd according to that form of sound Words which our Church hath appointed for that use There also we were daily Exercis'd in offering up our joynt Devotions to Almighty God rendering thanks to him for his Blessings and asking of him such good things as were suitable to our occasions and circumstances There our Youth was form'd to Piety and Virtue to real not only formal good manners and there moreover diverse of us lay'd the sure Foundation of our future Studies We are met together at this time to make a publick and grateful acknowledgment of these great Blessings to God and the World Let us therefore in the words of our Apostle continue in the things which we have learn'd So shall we truly answer the end of our Founder our Patrons Benefactors and Masters so shall we do honor to the Place of our Education finally so shall we best express and testifie our real Gratitude to Almighty God and comply with the main design of our present assembling which is by making this our publick acknowledgment to put our selves in mind of the Obligations we are under Now to that good God who gave us our Beings who form'd us in the Womb who preserv'd and Instructed us in our childhood and in our Youth and who hath taken care of us to this day to God even our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ with the Eternal Spirit be ascribed all Praise and Glory now and for ever Amen FINIS
he says that it dwelt first in his Grandmother Lois and his Mother Eunice intimating that he deriv'd it from them not certainly by meer descent but by their carefully instructing and forming his tender mind and the same Persons no question gave him also the first knowledge of the Holy Scriptures 'T is true Acts 16.1 he had a Greek or Gentile proselyted but not circumcis'd to his Father by which means he himself was not circumcis'd v. 3. till St. Paul from prudent Considerations thought fit to do it after he was committed to his care the Father it seems govern'd in that matter whilst the Son was in his State of Infancy and Childhood and not the Mother but to make amends for this disadvantage 't is likely that both the Mother and Grandmother were the more sedulous in his Instruction Here then his good Education began these pious Women gave him the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures from his Childhood And that the good Work which they had begun might be effectually carried on they having themselves early embrac'd the Christian Doctrine committed this their Charge to St. Paul that as soon as he was capable he might attend him and be farther instructed and improv'd by his Precepts and his Example For altho' the first mention we meet with of him is in that passage of the Acts of the Apostles Acts 16.1 where St. Paul is said to have come to Derbe and Lystra yet 't is very probable that he had attended the Apostle before that time from a passage a little before the Text V. 10 11. where St. Paul tells him that he had fully known the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which may fairly denote that he had known by attending the Apostle by seeing hearing and observing his Doctrine manner of Life Purpose Faith Long-suffering Patience Persecutions Afflictions which came unto him at Antioch at Iconium at Lystra Acts 14.1 ch 13.1 So that it seems he had been with him at Iconium before he came to Lystra and at Antioch before he was at Iconium 'T is likely his Father was now dead and he at the dispose of his Mother and to whom could she better commit him than to so admirable a Master as this one who had himself had the most regular Education as a Jew brought up in Jerusalem at the feet of the great Gamaliel Acts 22.3 Gal. 1.14 and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the Fathers one who had profited in the Jews Religion above many his Equals in his own Nation one who could thank God that he had serv'd him from his Fore-fathers with a pure Conscience one 2 Tim. 1.3 Gal. 1.15 16. whom as it had pleas'd God to separate from his Mother's Womb so in due time he call'd him by his Grace and reveal'd his Son first to him and then by him and that in a very extraordinary manner one who had not receiv'd the Gospel of Man V. 12. neither had been taught it but by the immediate Revelation of Jesus Christ and finally one who as he had receiv'd so he taught the Gospel with Demonstration and Power endeavouring to propagate the knowledge of it with the most exact fidelity the most indefatigable Industry and the most ardent Zeal that was possible This was the Person to whom young Timothy was committed for his farther improvement And as the Apostle took him along with him in his Travels so upon all occasions he exprest the greatest tenderness towards him 1 Tim. 1.2 2 Tim. 1.2 stiling him his own Son in the Faith and his dearly beloved Son and having at length found him a fit Person from his own experience as well as from the recommendation of others Acts 16.2 he consecrated him very early to the Work of the Ministry and appointed him whilst yet Young to be Bishop of the Church of Ephesus 1 Tim. 4.12 This was the Education of Timothy And if from thence we would form an Idea of a just and regular Education it must be to this purpose That in the first place Parents those to whom God hath committed the principal care of their Off-spring being themselves well instructed prudent virtuous and pious make it their business from the very dawning of Understanding and Reason to cultivate and improve the Minds of their Young ones instilling gradually as their capacities shall be enlarg'd such Principles and inuring them to such Practices as become Men and Christians Where both the Parents shall conspire in carrying on the same design by the same methods the Child will have an advantage above what Timothy seems to have had in his Childhood but if either of them shall thorowly do their part tho' the other should prove more unapt or negligent we see in this instance that by God's Blessing it may have it's effect And here even the weaker Sex may be of singular use 1 Tim 2.11 12. 1 Cor. 14.34 35. For altho' our Apostle would not suffer Women to teach or to usurp Authority over the Men but commands them to learn of them in silence and with all subjection yet we see he commends them for exercising Authority over and teaching their Children And here indeed they have in divers respects the advantage of the Men their tender Off-spring being first deliver'd by Nature into their Arms they having during their minority the greatest influence upon them and it being consequently their place and privilege to sow the first seeds of Ingenuity Virtue and Piety in them But where both Parents conspire each of them doing their proper part the work is like to succeed best The next step in a regular Education is that the Parents having thus done and still continuing to do as they have opportunity what becomes them both by their Instructions Admonitions Authority and Example they take in the assistance of others to complete what they have begun committing their Children to the care of such choice Persons as shall be both able and willing to second them in their designs and endeavours To this purpose that they send them to well-manag'd Schools where they may both be confirm'd and improv'd in the Principles and Practice of Virtue and Piety and may receive such farther Instructions as may dispose them to become wise and good and useful Men in their several future Stations in the World And here great care is to be taken for there are Quacks in all Professions as well as in that of Physick and in none do they Practice more frequently or more dangerously than in this of teaching Youth An ill Method or an ill management here will either Poyson or at least weaken the Constitution of the Patient and render him sickly and infirm thro the whole remaining course of his Life An Error committed in this Instance is like a fault in the first concoction never thorowly mended by any following digestions After Children's being continued at School so long as to answer the ends for