in the Church for his Catechizing Is it not recorded to the glory of Ambrose that he was in his Catechism when called to the charge of the Church at Millaine Let men therefore consider it may be a shame to want Catechizing but it must be our honour to submit to this exercise and be Catechized and whosoever shall make it a brand of reproach to be Catechized to be ashamed of doing duty themselves and deride others for their cheerful discharge thereof let it be their brand that they have through ignorance vilified and despised a Gospel exercise and let the people know and settle it in their judgements that Catechizing being a Gospel exercise is good and honourable 2. Use of the point is to reprove seeing that Catechizing is Gods Ordinance a Gospel exercise to be used in the Churches of Jesus Christ it doth justly bespeak matter of blame and rebuke for the general neglect of this exercise in the midst of us in these reforming daies is it not almost laid aside in congregations and families as if it had been a tradition of men rather then an institution of God a Prelatical fancy and imagination to vanish with them and the ceremonies as unsutable for times of reformations Oh Christians is divine stamp done away from this exercise that it is done away from practice is Gospel direction no guidance to this action that it is laid aside by eminent professors of the Gospel are there in the Churches of God no subjects for it that it is so silent nay is it not sad to see and may we not with shame and sorrow consider ignorance error lukewarmnesse to Christian Religion and contempt of the Gospel so to increase as to cast off if not cast out this instructing initiating grounding exercise Is it any marvel to finde men Scepticks in Religion now beleeving this now that who were never taught nor learned the principles of Christian Doctrine and standing verities necessary to be beleeved unto salvation can we wonder to see souls seriously affectionate to piety and godlinesse to act the duties thereof precipitately and irregularly and suddenly fall off when we remember that they have no principles fixed in their mindes to guide their practise and support their spirits shall we think it strange to finde painfull preaching little to profit when we consider Catechizing hath not laid the foundation on which preaching higher doctrines should build if the Hebrewes non-proficiency under this exercise made them uncapable of instruction and edification by higher Doctrines what capacity can be expected in those Churches where this duty is wholly neglected have we not cause to fear Popish and blasphemous doctrines catechetically propounded easily to captivate poor souls from very fundamental truths whereof for want of Catechizing they must needs be ignorant In a word my brethren In the Cracovian and Biddles Catechisms is it not sad to see and may we not with shame consider the light of nature teaching and the care of men pursuing all Arts and Sciences by principles axioms and standing verities and only Christian Doctrine neglected to be thus taught and learned did not the past ages of the Church of God commonly both teach and learn the Doctrine of God by this exercise as the way of the Lords prescription and shall we in this age neglect and omit it Let all therefore subjected to the guilt of this great iniquity of neglecting this Gospel exercise consider the same seriously and take to themselves this reproof thus justly exhibited and reflecting in special on these two sorts of men 1. Such who by vertue of their places should but do not call to Catechizing such of their relations as are under their charge and tuition in the Lord Ministers Schoolmasters and Masters of families who can live from year to year without once calling to their relations to seek knowledge and understanding without counselling and instructing them in the fundamentals of Religion without commanding and by the authority with which God hath invested them compelling subjection to this duty I have before shewed that it is the duty of such to Catechize yet how many shall we finde neglecting the same if not many Ministers as I fear too many contenting themselves with their preaching to people of years and never calling for the lambs and young ones of their flock to receive instruction and be fed with milk of Christian principles yet I fear Schoolmasters generally so neglective of calling on their Scholars to learn and give account of the ABC of Christianity the special rules of Gospel Doctrine the axioms of truth and true Religion whilest they lay out their power and authority in teaching the first rules of Arts and Sciences And Masters of families I may with more confidence then I delight in charge to have left their children and servants at liberty to learn or not to learn to be Catechized or not to be Catechized How many are there that if their children and servants of themselves will learn and do gain knowledge in the principles of Religion will not blame them nay will commend them for it and take comfort in it whilest yet themselves leave them to liberty to do what they list neither commanding them to learn nor calling for an account of their diligence therein whereby in the most families Catechizing is a stranger unacquainted because unused ignorance is nourished and when good natures are called by their Ministers to be Catechized though they learn they are ashamed to answer to give an account of what they have learned because unaccustomed so to do when we consider humane nature so subject to novelty as not without difficulty to be kept up with constancy in any way though never so good so indisposed to the things of God and the soul as to be at enmity with the dictates of and directions unto piety to be defirous of liberty and to be loose from every duty and observe the golden reigns of soveraignty to be thrown on the youthfull neck which sensible thereof can wantonly run off its due course and the due authority with which God hath invested superiours for the keeping up to duty to be suspended shall we admire to see Catechizing neglected ignorance nourished or think it strange for Ministers many times to call families to answer their Catechisms and have seats and pillars sooner then many children and servants to give answer However such are not ignorant who should be Catechized yet we cannot but charge the guilt on such who have authority and ought in duty to bring them to Catechizing and prepare them for the same by keeping to it in their families but do not for from youth at liberty we can expect no other then a neglect of duty and therefore give me leave to affect your hearts with this sin by laying before you these few considerations 1. Duty is neglected whilest you do not Catechize your selves such as are under your charge and call upon them to learn nay in thy place
by reason of our age conceive our selves to be excused and so much the rather for that we have attained to some ripenesse of understanding and are in a better capacity of gaining profit by the Word preached and read then we were when young To this I answer 1. It is your shame to be men and women in years and children in understanding Is it not a shame to be gotten into your teens and not able to repeat the Ten Commandements How many children go beyond you in knowledge of principles of Christianity 2. So were others when they were Catechized as Abrahams servants Theophilus Apollos Ambrose and Augustine most of the primitive Christians those were not ashamed when their beards were grown to be publiquely Catechized 3. Vncatechized thou canst not well profit by reading or hearing the Word for thy knowledge thereby must be immethodicall and confused nay many terms used in preaching cannot be understood by the uncatechized thou maist fill thy head with confused and indigested notions which will never nourish the heart and be like the childe which wanting breast-milk is big-headed by the Rickets but very little and weak bodied and with these airy and indigested notions thou art puft up with pride ready to step into the Pulpit and to preach to others before thou be Catechized as is the common practise of many Prentices The third and last Use of the point is of exhortation to superiours and inferiours in their places to own exercise advance and subject unto this ordinance of God Catechizing let me in the Name of the Lord earnestly intreat all such as have the charge and oversight of youth diligently to instruct them in and require a constant account of their Catechism and all such as are in subjection with all readinesse and resolution alacrity and audacity study and subject your selves to your Catechisms Parents and Masters of families in your houses duly use your abilities in counselling and authority in commanding unto Catechizing as you make conscience of duty or expect comfort in your family let your houses be houses of Catechizing your children and servants be constantly Catechized Schoolmasters in your Schools be no lesse carefull and studious to teach rudiments of Religion then other Arts and Sciences and instruct in Christianity as well as Morality the children committed to your care let the fame of the School at Alexandria and Athens be the renown of your Schools Ministers make consciences to minister this milk of principles by Catechizing to babes in Christ with no lesse diligence then to feed men with the meat of higher Doctrines by constant preaching let not youth upbraid us to have baptized them into a Religion in which we never Catechize or instruct them and whilest superiors are required to do their duty let inferiours take heed they do not sinfully slight or stubbornly resist subjection to this ordinance of Catechizing unto the perswading both superiours and inferiours duly to discharge their respective duties I need propound no other motives then what hath been before urged Consider but the Reasons of the Doctrine and if Excellency may induce Necessity enforce Antiquity engage Vtility exasperate or Easinesse and Familiarity excite to a duty reject resist Catechizing if you can moreover reflect on and revolve in your serious thoughts the particular reasons rendred why Parents in their families Schoolmasters in their Schools and Ministers in their Congregations must Catechize why the ignorant in generall and youth or childehood in speciall are subjected to this ordinance tell me whether you have not pregnant perswasions unto Catechizing yet that I may not close the Doctrine without some heart-moving soul-quickning considerations weigh seriously these severall motives I desire to suggest to superiors and inferiors joyntly to stirre up the one constantly to Catechize the other chearfully to be Catechized Mot. 1 The first Motive is That principled pious youth is a pleasure and delight to God but provocation and displeasure unto Satan This is that which God cals for in Eccles 12.1 Remember thy Creator in the daies of thy youth before the daies come wherein thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them Wilt thou leave those daies to God of which thou wilt be weary thy self can God take pleasure in that time which thou canst take none thy self For des Sermon of Catechizing It is an observation of the Rabbies on Levit. 1.14 that Turtles may be offered in sacrifice at any age but Pigeons when they are young we should consider our children are not turtles that is Christs sanctified ones by nature but are Pigeons to be dedicated to God when young and as God cals for a pious principled youth so he commends it 2 Tim. 3.17 Nay it layeth an engagement on God to communicate his Counsell to Abraham that he knoweth that he will command his houshold and his children that they shall keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18.17 19. And whilest it pleaseth God it displeaseth Satan for pietas juventutis est Diaboli flagellum Hence it is he surrounds youth with such variety of temptations unto sin and obstruction unto duty Mot. 2 The second Motive Pious order is produced in well principled families Catechizing counsels every soul to their relative and personall duties Abrahams family was Catechized as was before noted and what a harmony of duty is to be observed in all the parts of the family his wife is humble and reverent to her husband the Scripture takes speciall notice of Sarahs calling Abraham Lord and propounds her as a pattern of meeknesse and submission 1 Pet. 3.6 His son Isaac is subject and obedient to his father chearfully bearing the wood on which he should have been sacrificed nay subjecting his throat to the sacrificing knife leaving the choise of his wife to his fathers pleasure besides his pious education expresseth it self in his daily meditating devotion Gen. 22 6. 24.41 6.31 So also his servant Eliezer is faithfull to the oath sworn to his Master and pursueth the same with all piety and prudence so that the effect of Catechizing is seen in all the members of the family making it a Church for its constant orderly and pious performances of duty Mot. 3 3. Catechizing is the proper means for edifying the Churches of Jesus Christ God never denied the Infants of Christian parents admission into his Church nay since his Church was visible on earth he owned as Members of it parents and their seed and therefore for the preservation and due edification of it ordained Catechizing constantly and lawfully to be used and infants members of the Church to be the subjects thereof as was before noted By Catechizing the sap of Christianity is communicated to the youngest sprouting branches of the Church of God the great piety of our age is placed in a pretended gathering but reall scaâ—tering by cutting publick solemn assemblies in private meetings of Churches and by many cutting Infants off from the Congregation of Gods people but sure
Catechizing Gods Ordinance OR A SHORT TREATISE CONCERNING That Ancient Approved Soul-edifying Singularly necessary Exercise of Catechizing DELIVERED In sundry SERMONS at Botolphs Aldgate London By Zach. Crofton Minister of the Word Jesus Christ in his childhood submitted himself to this Ordinance of God though he were replenished with all divine wisdome Downam of Catech. p. 334. Knowledge of the Word is as necessary an art for Christians as the art of husbandry is necessary for husbandmen Greenh p. 383. Invisa possumus cupere incognita nequaquam Aug. Train up a childe in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Prov. 22.6 Whom say ye that I am some say Elias some John the Baptist some Jeremiah or one of the Prophets Whom say ye that I am Thou art Christ the Son of the living God Mat. 16.13 14 15 16. London Printed by E. Cotes for Tho. Parkhurst at the Three Crowns over against the great Conduit at the lower end of Cheapside 1656. To his much honoured and truly endeared in the Lord the Christian Inhabitants within the Parish of Botolphs without Aldgate as well without as within the Liberty of the City of London Endeared in the Lord I Present to the view of you all what hath been plainly preached to the ears of such whose hearts God hath inclined to attend on my publick Ministry It is the chief and plain heads of sundry Sermons without all Pulpit-repetitions which would have swelled the volume too much and without all flourishes of Fathers sentences and citation of Authors which might have made it nauseous to the mindes of such who judge things goodnesse by their plâ—â—nnesse the main scope and drift of it is to vindicate the dignity of a despised and due authority of a denied Ordinance of God to revive in the Church an anciently exercised and too too long exil'd priviledge to excite and quicken to that too too long neglected duty of Catechizing in all Christian societies This work I confesse hath been done by many more able and eminent Ministers of the Church as holy Mr. Greenham reverend Mr. Downam acute Mr. Forde and the reverend Provincial Assembly of the Churches of God within the City and Province of London many times I had it in my thoughts to have commended these to your reading but fearing what in that case I should desire might passe in at one ear and out at another and I being by some desired and by the Province enjoyned to preach on the nature of this duty and having calculated the doctrine for your condition and capacity thought it might most sure with you to put my own digested considerations into your hands the which cannot but be the more welcome to such whose ears heard them and whose hearts were touched in the publique delivery the acceptance of them by such is not to be doubted and by all others it is desired that they may be so farre accepted as to be taken up read without passion or prejudice the Doctrine therein taught may be revolved in your deliberate thoughts and prayer may be put up to the God of Wisdome to open your eyes unto the apprehension and acknowledgement of the truth This acceptance is the rather desired for that 1. This little Tract is presented to you as a taste of that pity and testimony of that true affection I bear to you in the Lord as your Minister against which though I strongly resolved yet providence hath so disposed that after all the sad changes and Religion-ruining revolutions to which the times have subjected you you are committed to my care and charge and I hope I can unfeignedly say you are now my Dearly beloved and much longed for in the Lord. 2. This Tract travels in this publick way to seek out them who by reason of the spirit of delusion and prophanenesse withdraw their ears from hearing it when preached I thought it a duty to preach to the eyes of them whose ears are shut to such absolute Religion-preserving ordinances as this is of Catechizing I hope you have more charity then to suffer a Parish Childe born amongst you to pass by your houses without one nights nay a few hours entertainment and I desire none may appear so cruel as to spurn and kick it out of their houses for the fathers sake and the rather for that the father is to be found ready to traverse all inditements against himself or doctrine if he may but enjoy a patient hearing but in special take heed that none look asquint at it and carry doggedly towards it for propounding a duty and pleading for a piece of piety for therein they engage the God of wisdome and holinesse to plead his own cause As for such as shall be ready to flight it on a seeming scrupulosity of conscience concerning the novelty or antiquity or formality c. of the exercise for which it contends I desire they will with patience read it through it may be the resolve of their scruples may make them more esteem it 3. The duty herein pressed is that which concerns you all of what ever age or condition Are you ignorant Catechizing is the way to knowledge and certainly knowledge in rudiments of Religion is an absolute duty incumbent on every man be he rich or poor high or low young or old It is a very good observation the Provinciall Assembly have in their exhortation to the same duty and I desire you may well note it it is this It is the rare priviledge of the Romish Synagogue to have such a power over ignorance as to command her to imploy her self as a tender nurse to their blind devotions but the Church of Christ hath ever found her such a froward piece as that she hath churlishly handled all the genuine issues of truth piety and as fondly cockered all the mis-shapen monsters of error though never so strangely composed of an heterogeneous commixture of superstition and prophanenesse And as they I must needs say we cannot nourish our selves with the least hope as to see ignorance become serviceable to true piety we know the affections cannot outgo the apprehension of truth till she be known cannot be reverenced cannot but be hated Are you knowing yet Catechizing concerns you not only in that thereby you communicated knowledge to others according to your duty but also the Catechism is to you no lesse usefull then the compasse to the most skilfull Mariner to steer your course with method and order in these boisterous daies of confused notions as a touchstone to the most discerning Goldsmith to try metals and detect the most glittering falsities that are spread before you with a Christ Christ as a rule to the most understanding Architect by which you square your actions in the spirituall edifice of your immortall souls Are you poor Catechizing is a very cheap and easie way in a few hours time in two pence expence to make you rich in faith Are you rich Religion
and then by proceeding from those things which were to have been learned for the initiating them in the Doctrine of Christ unto those things that should increase and build up their knowledge toward perfection that so he might not alwaies rest in the foundation what can we imagine the Apostle to mean by foundation and first doctrine from which he would thus in order go forward but the Catechetical heads and standing verities of the Gospel Thirdly if we observe the several heads recited and expressed by the author himself in chap. 6. vers 1 2. as the things they ought to have learned but had neglected being such as these before named repentance from dead works faith in Christ Doctrine of Baptisms laying on of hands resurrection from the dead and eternal Judgement we cannot but determine them to be Catechetical heads taught to the novices and young Christians for the grounding of them in the Doctrine of Christ the which we finde also resolved by the learned in their Expositions on the Text as Deodate on the place saith These are the heads of Christian Doctrine or Catechism which were taught little children and novices in a plain lowly and rough manner Aretius thinks that from hence may be gathered what were the principles and chief heads of the Catechism of those times Beza affirms they were the chief heads of Christianism which they call Catechism and were delivered in short and few words to the ignorant Pareus cals them the first rudiments of Christian faith were wont to be learned by and required from Children and young Christians But Calvin determines from the testimony of the Fathers that they were certain heads which the Pastour used to aske the Catechized resolving that the Author of the Epistle did look back to the form of Catechism then used in the Church with whom Marlorat doth agree not only in judgement but also in expression These things being seriously considered cannot but convince every one studious of the minde of the Holy Ghost of the necessity and divine authority of Catechizing whilest we see the words thus divided and explained to lay before the Hebrews and in them all other Christians those two positive and undeniable duties 1. The first is to be well Cathechized or instructed in the first and main grounds and principles of the Christian Religion that thereby as by a foundation layed they may be made capable of higher Doctrines 2. That being prepared by their Catechism they must not haesitate in though not renounce or recede from first elements but diligently proceed to grow in the knowledge of the doctrines of a higher degree dictated to them the first of these is that I desire may be taken into consideration and therefore from the particular duty dictated by the Apostle to the Hebrews I shall resolve for our instruction this general Observation or point of Doctrine Catechizing or instruction in the principles of Religion is a Gospel-exercise Doct and of necessity to be used in the Churches of God In the prosecution of this truth we shall endevour this Method to which I shall desire diligent attention 1. By way of illustration we shall consider the word and thing Catechize 2. Propound the reasons that may confirm and clear the truth to your judgements 3. Further illustrate the point by considering the matter and manner of this exercise 4. And lastly make some use or application of the point First of the first of these and that is to consider the word and thereby the thing Gatechize Concerning which I must desire you to observe that the word Catechize is no proper English word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Viva voce instituo or dicta repeto but derived of a Greek word which signifies to teach or instruct by a lively and audible voice by the repetition of words as by the reflexion of an eccho and it is generally used for any kinde of instruction or information whatsoever as in Act. 21.24 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They are informed concerning thee Gal. 6.6 Those that are taught in the word to him that teacheth But more especially and properly for instruction in the first rudimeuts of any doctrine but most especially and principally the Christian Religion see Rom. 2.18 Catechized in the Law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imbuâ—t docere incepit paulatâ—m assuefecit so in Act. 8.15 Luk. 1.4 this word Catechize in the Greek answereth unto Hanach in the Hebrew which signifies to instruct to begin to teach to accustome by a little alluding unto Dyers that by degrees do dip and give colours to their Stuffs hence comes the Hebrew word Hanich which signifies a novice or one in learning the first rudiments both which are frequently read in the Old Testament From the signification of the word thus opened we may easily collect and conclude what is the thing and we shall finde that Catechizing is a plain perspicuous and familiar way of teaching the ignorant and weak capacities in the first rudiments and principles of the Christian Religion drawn from the Doctrines of the Prophets and Apostles This is that exercise whereby babes in Christ are fed with milk and prepared for the receiving and digesting of stronger meat this is that that layeth the foundation of Christ in the soul which must by higher Doctrine be built up unto perfection and this then is the Ordinance of God and Gospel exercise to be used in the Churches of Christ Having briefly past the Consideration of the word and thing we come now to speak to the second thing propounded and therein to lay before you the reasons that may prove Catechizing to be a Gospel exercise and to be used in the Churches of God the which we shall resolve into these heads which being cleared to our judgements cannot but convince of the truth of the point 1. The excellency of Catechizing 2. The antiquity of Catechizing 3. The necessity of Catechizing 4. The utility or profit of Catechizing 5. The facility or easines of Catechizing Reas 1 The first reason is from the excellency of Catechizing for that which appears to be a duty excellent will plead divine stamp and call for entertainment in the Churches and amongst the people of God the excellent upon earth Psal 16.3 Now my brethren we shall on serious observation finde Catechizing to be so far from a base low carnal and beggerly exercise that it hath alwaies been in the Church of God and been had in great esteem and reverence as very excellent yea as such an exercise which the greatest Emperors most honourable Senators and chiefest of Martyrs for Gods truth thought sutable to themselves and worthy their subjection nay to which also the wisest Philosophers and most reverend Fathers of the Churches such as Justin Martyr as Augustine Ambrose and others cheerfully submitted to when God opened their eyes and inclined their hearts to the embracing and
give audible and distinct answers to the several questions propounded 5. That they may not lose the end in using the means they must diligently study the answers they do repeat observe the questions to which they answer resolve the question and answer into entire and distinct propositions hearken with all meeknesse and reverence to the instructing exposition consult annexed Scriptures observe their pertinency to prove the principles and according to their capacities commend all to Gods blessing by prayer hereby they will take off the scandal cast on Catechizing and make it to appear their faith is not pinn'd to another mans sleeve but they see with their own eyes assent to principles they understand and are ready to contend for those Doctrines of the truth of which they are clearly and fully convinced Having thus laid before you the doctrinal consideration of this Truth and I hope informed your judgements in the great necessity of such a duty in the Church of God I shall now briefly suggest the improvement or application thereof for the exciting of your affections towards the same and first it is usefull to information of judgement in these truths 1. Catechizing is not an exercise of indifferency but of positive necessity in the Church of God men may not choose whether they will instruct or be instructed in the principles of Religion and foundations of the Doctrine of God and perswade themselves they do well if they exercise and submit to such instruction but sin not if they refuse or neglect the same for if there be as I hope you see a divine stamp on this exercise as an ordinance of God morally and not ceremonially binding it must needs impose an absolute and undeniable duty the parents among the Jewes might not conceive themselves at liberty in respect of conscience whether they would teach their children and childrens children the waies and ordinances of the Lord or no neither yet the children might think themselves at liberty to choose or refuse subjection unto such instruction whilest God had enjoyned the same as duty neither yet may Christian parents under the Gospell choose or refuse the bringing up their families in the nurture and fear of the Lord by this childish way of Catechizing nor yet children choose or refuse subjection to the same whilest it appears to be an Ordinance of Gods prescription And what is thus instanced concerning parents holds good concerning Schoolmasters and Ministers according to their relations and in their proper places Ministers may not think they have discharged pastoral duty when they have preached once or twice a week and neglected this exercise but must know that it is absolute and undeniable duty for them to see that all such under their charge as are ignorant of the principles of Religion be therein Catechized and then people must know it their duty willingly to subject to the same the Apostolical perswasion did dictate absolute duty of feeding babes with milk as well as strong men with strong meat of laying the foundation of God as well as building up to perfection of disciples to be exercised in and prepared by principles to receive higher doctrines which was the undoubted ground of their resolving the Christian Doctrine into Catechetical heads and constitution of Catechizing Schools and order in the Christian Churches nay moreover had instruction in the principles of Religion been a matter of indifferency and not of duty the neglect thereof had not been a matter reprehensive and chargeable on the Hebrews as a matter of iniquity I fear my brethren it is a too generally received fancy as well among such as should catechize as such as should be catechized that Catechizing is good but not necessary commendable where it is used but not duty this fear may be justly grounded on the neglect thereof nay on childrens and servants refusing subjection to such waies when thereunto called not only by their Ministers but Parents and Masters nay in affirming that though it is good yet it hath not any ground in Scripture it were well if the lukewarmnesse of some in it and the perversnesse of some towards it did not lead them to determine this exercise to be iniquity and denominate it the Antichristian weapon of the late Assembly but whosoever seriously considers the care of the Bishops the constant pains of Catechizers the cheerful submission of Christians of all ages sexes ranks and degrees to this way of instruction and the continued practise of the primitive times of the Christian Churches seconded with the Canons of Councels constitutions of all Church assemblies composed Catechisms conscientious discharge of the duty by the most faithfull Ministers and servants of God in all the succeeding ages of the Church to this day must conclude it to have been apprehended as absolute duty which appearing to be a Gospel exercise yet to be used amongst us and the Churches of God that shall succeed must be accordingly continued not as a thing of indifferency and that may be done but of necessity and that must be done 2. It may inform us that subjection unto Catechizing in the principles of Religion is not base and shamefull but good and honourable not with blushing but boldnesse to be undertaken I know not what madnesse possesseth mens brains to make modesty the main obstruction of this duty may we not see such as are not ashamed to be ignorant ashamed by this way to be instructed nay and to note it as a ground of contempt and derision even by laughter and digitation to such as subject unto the same as if God had stamped divine authority on such ordinances as might not with modesty and honour be exercised or had called for such duties in which his Church and servants might not be seen without shame Is any Gospell ordinance to be declined as shamefull and contemptible by such as would be called Christians and Gospel professors Did the Apostle ever upbraid or leave it as the brand of the Hebrewes that they were Catechized and subjected to this ordinance or not rather that they had not been sufficiently Catechized and made such proficiency in this School and lesson as they ought to have done Was it a shame for Christ to be found among the Catechumenists of the Jewes Could not the Apostles answer without blushing to Christ his Whom do ye say that I am Was it the shame of Theophilus Apollos and others that they had been Catechized I finde the Apostle Paul indeed stigmatizing the Jewes with not practising Catechetical heads and rules as a note of their perpetual infamy but never with being Catechized which had been their glory and now was the great aggravation of their iniquity Nay is it not the everlasting renown of the Schools at Athens and Alexandria that they were Schools of Catechizing and good learning Did wise Philosophers and honourable Senators and reverend fathers of the Church when becoming Christians submit with shame unto this exercise Is not the name of Origen famous
command and according to thy authority compell to be Catechized That it is your duty to Catechize I have before shewed if that it be not done duty is neglected indisposition and aversenesse of the children and family will be no excuse to thee for hath God put the rod of correction any more into thy hand in vain then he hath put the sword into the hand of the Magistrate hath he not ordained thee in thy sphere to be a terror to such as do evill and encourager to the good hath he not put in subjection to thee such as he hath placed under thy charge doth he not require from thy hand that thou and thy house should serve the Lord It is the good note of learned Zanchy on the fourth Command that it doth not command remember to keep holy the Sabbath and to perswade thy children and servant to keep it holy implying it is the duty of the Master and father to compell to the keeping the Sabbath and therefore it is said thou shalt do it and thy son and thy man-servant and maid-servant for God and Nature takes it for granted that the subject family conform to the command of the Master of it Those several commands in Scripture of teaching our children and houshold to know the Law of the Lord and to train them up in the nurture of the Lord must necessarily imply the laying out or exercise of authority to compel their aversenesse unto duty and command their attendance on and diligence in instructing means and not to teach them if they be willing and neglect it when they are unwilling and the Gospell command to childrens obedience to their parents to hear their instructions to bear their reproofs and to obey their commands as Zanchy notes must needs imply a parents power and duty to instruct reprove and command and therefore to close up this consideration mourn for your subjection to old Eli his sin of slack rebukes and neglect of paternall authority and let me tell you that I do beleeve the neglect of paternall power and due exercise of that authority God hath given to call and compell to duty will not be found the least of relative sins in the day of the Lord. Secondly You are degenerated from the practise of the people of God in past ages whose resolution was not only for themselves but theirs also that they should serve the Lord. The Patriarchs and people of God among the Jews did teach and command their seed to serve God thus did David as a dying man charge Solomon his son and so others whom I have before mentioned and I have before noted that God exceedingly extols Abraham for this very reason that he knew he would use his paternall power to see his children and houshold to keep Gods waies on which words a reverend Divine notes that Abraham did not leave his children and servants to their own genius their own counsels their own lusts nay he would not allow them in such a liberty as would have enticed them into the worst kinde of bondage Oh consider brethren is paternall power any lesse now under the Gospell then before and under the Law or are not we more degenerated from the pious property of authoritative acting zeal for duty then they were whose posterity we professe to be and whose practise we would be thought to follow Thirdly You deal worse for the soul then for the bodies of your relations in that you will leave them to liberty in respect of the waies of God when you limit them in matters concerning the outward man How many men will compell their servants and children to this and that way of serving them though they are never so averse that yet will let them study the waies of God when and how they will and if averse thereunto let slack their authority set them at liberty and indulge their neglect of duty many a man will from day to day and week to week call for accounts of the service done to themselves that cannot or rather will not from sabbath to sabbath call for an account of their families progresse in their Catechism and rudiments of Religion nay and will not many men make the rod to caution and command from dangers to the bodies of their children that can passe in silence the desperate dangers to which the soul is subjected Will they not many times put out their power to prohibit such company and courses as may endanger their persons or estates and upon their blessing charge and command such and such courses as may conduce to their supposed happinesse which yet can let their own genius lead to or from the duties that may advantage the soul for ever O fools and unwise can you think that God gave this power into your hand for your selves alone and not rather to command for him and is not the immortall souls of your dear relations much better then their mortall bodies what shall be their profit to gain the whole world and lose the soul but will it not be the shame of Christians that as men of this world they should be wiser in their generation then as the children of God But these Reproofs are by some staved off by some Pleas which they think to be not only sufficient to acquit them from the charge of sin but also to justifie their neglect as if it were good and warrantable These Pleas are so weak that they were not worth taking notice of them had not notable ignorance and the nice and sinfull scrupulosity of our times given them strength enough to keep off from positive duty weak Christians but inclining the least to the pretended and much cryed up new lights in our daies therefore such as they are I shall set before you with answers to them Whereof the first is Plea 1 That our way of Catechizing is a forme asking some set questions and receiving set answers to them and they think all formes unlawfull To this I answer 1. The Apostles did deliver to the succeeding Ministers a form of sound words and gave it in charge that it should be held fast as did Paul to Timothy 2 Tim. 1.13 and was this sinful and to be condemned or if ours be a form is it of unsound words if so let them make it to appear we will then lay it aside till then we must conclude to charge and cast off Catecheticall Doctrine because in a form is not only to condemn the generation of the just but also the very Apostles of Christ 2. The Ten Commandements are a form nay and such a form as is expunged out of these mens books and exil'd their families yet God commanded the Jewes to teach them their children and whet them diligently upon them as well as keep them in their own hearts Deut. 6.6 7. Shall we be afraid to teach our children the ten Commandements when we finde it to be the lesson God himself hath set them may not we that are Gods Ushers safely teach
in the method that our Master hath propounded nay must we not of duty do it Is it not eminent piety and devout scrupulosity that makes us question and cast off divine prescription Rather is it not the Devils cavill against duty it is done in a form 3. That our Catechisms are thus in Formes doth most answer our main end of Catechizing which is to teach men and women from their Infancy to think and speak the same things that the Members of the Church may be of one minde and one mouth in the Lord. Certain it is that the Church never tun'd discords in Doctrine so high as since we stood at a distance from the form of sound words 4. Is it not the Form that constitutes the duty and distinguisheth from other duties I have before noted that Catechizing is a teaching by words a repetition of the same strokes an echo or reiteration of the same sound so that to quarrell at the form is to quarrell at the duty doth not experience witnesse that the crying down of forms is the casting down of all duties of publick worship The second Plea for not Catechizing is Plea 2 That the children Catechized being young and not capable of understanding what they hear and repeat will but prophane the name of God by using an ordinance in a perfunctory way and speaking principles of Religion by rote without any understanding and in many we may observe it doth little good many prophane children are in religious families I answer 1. The intellectuals of some children are very early ripe and some things are so plain and easie that they may be soon and easily understood the speeches that have dropt from some children at four or five or six years of age do sufficiently demonstrate how easie some truths have been apprehended by the understandings yea and wrought on the consciences of little ones 2. Stands not this objection contrary to the Scripture which prescribes children to be the subjects of Catechizing commending Timothy for having known and been acquainted with the Scriptures from his long coats and cradle 2 Tim. 3.15 Nay doth not our Saviour justifie and defend the little children who cryed Hosanna to him at his riding into Jerusalem Mat. 21.16 17. yet it is more than probable they understood not what they cryed but only accompanied the multitude and according to the objection should have been condemned for it as the Pharisees desired have not these pretended pious scruplers need of a Solomons Be not righteous over much and the check of a Peters vision Act. 10.15 What God hath cleansed call not thou common 3. There is more danger of both present and future prophanation of Gods Name by swearing cursing prophanation of Sabbaths c. for want of Catechizing principles of Religion are a curbe to corruption the light kindled in the understanding when young may grow up and be a strong restraining if not renewing light and if prophanenesse prevail much in catechized children what must it do in the uncatechized who have no principles of death judgement and hell to curb or restrain them certainly such must be drowned by the overflowings of impiety 4. This Plea doth not only bar us from Catechizing children but all kinde of instructing elder persons known to be wicked and prophane for there is more likelihood that such will prophane holy things and yet no Minister is to take the prophanenesse of his hearers as a sufficient discharge from his duty but persist in instructing even those that oppose themselves to see if God will at any time give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth 2 Tim. 2.25 The prophanation of Gods Name is not the proper result of instruction but the accidental corruption of a wicked heart and if such effects shall discharge from duty what duty shall be discharged the word of God may prove the savour of death to death yet it must be dispensed both by preaching and Catechizing and the dispensers are to God a sweet savour Having noted the reproof against superiors for not calling and commanding such as are under their charge unto Catechizing we now come to the reproof of inferiors and it is to blame them which have been declared the subjects of Catechizing for shunning the same as a matter of shame nay many for stouting it out and stubbornly refusing subjection to it as a matter of sin How sad is it to see many young people spending their time in vanity and studiously learning things scurrilous and profane yet slighting and setting at a distance the principles of piety and rudiments of the Doctrine of Christ as if unsutable to their age and unprofitable to be known nay much more is it a shame to see many stubbornly resisting parental commands and scornfully shunning Ministerial cals to Catechizing as if they owed no subjection to such relations or were by them summoned unto things uncivill and unwarrantable Let me tell you Christians a youth ignorant in principles of Religion is the shame of Christianity and scandall of the reformed Churches herein we fall short of Heathens who are studious to educate their children in morality and the worship of their Idols and come behinde the Papists who are diligent in studying their superstitions How many are unwilling to be Catechized that will take on them to teach others but unto this I shall as in the former reproof aggravate their sin and answer the Pleas by which they would evade the reproof Let such as shun or stubbornly refuse subjection unto Catechizing consider that in so doing they do 1. Cast off divine prescription it hath been noted and proved that God himself is the Author that appointed Catechizing and assigned all that are ignorant but in speciall youth and children to be the subjects of it and will youth refuse and rise up against it is this your remembrance of God your Creator in the daies of your youth or did you but seriously remember your Creator to be a God of Soveraignty and power that may and can require submission to his prescriptions of justice and severity that will punish every disobedience and resistance thereof how could you sinfully slight or stubbornly refuse subjection unto Catechizing If God put a period to your daies under the contempt of his prescriptions how perplexed would your ignorant souls be found how willing to learn and be Catechized if then you might 2. Contradict the practice of pious progenitors who have subjected to this exercise and herein are become our patterns Which of all the Saints in Scripture did refuse or resist Catechizing were not these the children of Wisdome who well knew the duties commanded of God and convenient nay commodious to themselves doth not your stubborn resistance of and stiffe contests against subjection to this exercise charge the generation of the just with folly and vanity 3. Content themselves to be captivated by Satan subjected to corruption and condemnation Ignorance is the Devils chain and sin's cords by which