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
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
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
will make you civill literature will be your honour and none so much as Catechism which will be the very glory of a Princes Crown Nay not only doth the duty pressed but the very pressing of it concern you all and that in order to the quickning of your lukewarm spirits convincing your very consciences of a duty to Catechize and be Catechized Hath not the long neglect of this exercise to some lost the divine stamp of it and armed young men when called to Catechizing with impudence to call its authority into question how many stick not to call it an humane invention how many others account it good but not necessary allow it where it is used but live without the discharge of it themselves as if it concerned not them if ever it had need to be pressed now with most power and plainnesse pregnant and perswasive arguments the youth of this age through want of Catechizing are captivated with Heresies and Schism and if the neglect be continued the youth of the next will be capable of turning Pagan or Papist but in the past ages of the Churches by this very means as you have heard and may read young children were prepared for Martyrdome in the defence of their Religion If any enquire and wonder that I preach and present to your reading so low plain common and ordinary Doctrines in this high flown wise and knowing age I desire such to know I am not insensible that the age in which we live is an age of comforts and that the now great enquiry of our Saints is after joy not duty assurance not assent of faith but truly I study not what may please you but what may profit you the practises of holinesse in Word Sacraments and Sabbaths are more for your profit then the priviledges of a Christian and whilest your heads are lifted so high that you tread and trample under your feet the principles and positive duties pearls of no small value it is high time to set the lustre of them before your eyes and to make wantons know sweet meats were not intended to work a contempt of common and ordinary food and again you have been too long pleased and puffed up with high flown doctrines nay and the spirituall riches under which you travell I mean that heady disorderly knowledge uttered in free but very confused discourses makes me very jealous they were not wholsome Lastly I have cause to fear that generally you cannot yet bear higher Doctrine if God will I shall leave the first rudiments and go on towards perfection when I have first laid the foundation you will do well to consider some men who desire to make the bounds of Christ his Church narrower then the Lord hath set them hath under the notions of gathering Churches stirred you in many parts and private congregations and unchurched as much as in them lies your whole bodies holding the place of a publick Minister but neither owned nor discharged the duties thereof in your instruction nor yet giving way for others to do it nay nor yet have they instructed the poor souls seduced into their societies great is the ignorance in foundation principles I finde and greater I fear amongst you nor when I consider how it hath been with you do I wonder but only this I say how shall they be capable of the comforts that flow from the enjoyment of Christ that are yet to be convinced that Christ is present to every beleever in the Sacrament not only by way of efficacy but also of reall existency yet not corporall in a Popish sense But I will hold you no longer at the threshold the Doctrine I have preached to some and printed for all I tender it to you as a Minister of Jesus Christ nay as your Minister set over you by the Lord and watching for your souls and desirous to give up my account of you with joy and not with grief as such and I this small Tract so tendred I beseech you nay I charge you in the Lord receive both me and it I am not ignorant that some amongst you who are ready to deny the existency of Gospel Ministry despise it as Antichristian determine the cry of holinesse sufficient ordination and the Ministry to lie so common that any man may though to them none must be manifest and are so farre from subjecting that they set themselves over others boldly Catechizing the Catechizers will be ready to disclaim and deny any subjection or relation to me and dispute my authority as a Minister But to such I say the Fathers authority is better exercised then debated amongst froward children I have offered openly and do offer again to give to the sober dissatisfied soul that will with patience and meeknesse hear full satisfaction not only concerning this but all other principles of which this Scepticall age hath caused them to doubt I may not now stand to answer further but invite them home and in the mean time expect the duty pressed to be embraced Catechizing to be restored to your Families and Schools your children and servants to be duly presented when called to this duty in the Church and fervent prayers for a blessing upon it and upon me that God would enable me to doe the work which concernes your everlasting welfare which is and by Gods grace shall be sincerely and fervently followed by The meanest of the Lords Labourers for your Souls salvation Zach. Crofton The Contents IN this Treatise you have discussed this Doctrine Catechizing is Gods Ordinance very usefull to his Church pag. 11 The word Catechize explained and the thing described p. 1 2 3 The reasons that enforce the Doctrine and they are drawn from its 1. Excellency in respect of its Prescriber God p. 15 Professors Saints p. 17 Prime matter p. 19 Proper end p. 20 2. Antiquity p. 21 3. Necessity p. 28 4. Vtility in that it 1. Preserves Religion in purity p. 31 2. Propagates to posterity p. 35 3. Prepares for increase of Knowledge in Christ p. 36 4. Profits by the Word p. 37 5. Prevents Apostasie p. 38 6. Presents fit Communicants to the Lords Supper p. 41 7. Powerfully disposeth to duty p. 45 5. Easinesse and familiarity p. 46 The proper matter about which Catechizing is conversant p. 47 The formes to be used and manner how it is to be managed p. 57 Under which is noted those that must Catechize 1. Ministers in their Congregations p. 60 2. Schoolmasters in their Schools p. 65 3. Masters of Families in their Families p. 70 All that are ignorant and in speciall youth and why they must be Catechized how they must carry in subjecting to it p 78 The Doctrine applyed 1. To inform of the necessity and dignity of Catechizing p. 86 2. Reproof of Superiors neglect p. 93 Inferiors not submission p. 110 To exhort to the duty which exhortation is enforced with severall motives p. 125 ERRATA Pag. 7. for them read then p. 27. lin 21. r.
Canons of the Councels at p. 32. l. 22. r. Cookes Imprimatur Edm. Calamy To the Reverend the Provincial Assembly of the Churches of God within the City and Province of London Reverend Fathers and Brethren DEdications of Books and inscriptions of the names of men of worth and honour are grown so common that the plainest Truths and meanest Tracts discussing the same cannot passe without them and thereby a craved and engaged patronage if this small Tract of so plain a duty must seek any for many considerable reasons it must seek you and none but your selves as its Patrons 1. That the Author may hereby testifie to the world and your selvef his thankfull acknowledgement os Gods great mercy to his Church not only for your being in these times of envie and indignation at all Church order and authority but also for your vigilancy over and industry for the good of the Churches of God eminently approved not only in your elaborate vindications of Government and Ministry but also in your late grave serious and authoritative exhortation unto Catechizing wherein by many pregnant and perswasive reasons you do provoke Ministers as well as others to a duty the long neglect of which with its sad effects is to us in the sight of God and his Church matter of shame and sorrow 2. To you it is directed as authors of its resurrection though not first being though at my first coming into your City in the pursuit of the duty I did some years since preach it to the people of whom I had the inspection At James Garlickhithe yet I had laid it by me as dead and determined it should never see the light nor sound in the ears of men any more yet the sound of your exhorting trumpet put again life into it and caused it to be preached to a more publick audience for the benefit of a much greater people to all whose ears the sound not reaching I was constrained to make it thus publick that by reading what they should have heard they might be convinced of and counselled unto duty and now it is cheerfully submitted to your censure at whose command it was preached though not the first yet the second time To you it comes in obedience to your command and conformity to your order which requires an account to be given from the several Classes of what proceeding is made in the work of Catechizing to which you exhort let this small Tract assure you of the chearfull submission of the meanest of your brethren to your exhortation and full resolution to revive that ordinance of Catechizing so necessary usefull and advantagious to the Church of God prefessing that the greatest comfort that ever my soul enjoyed in all my ministeriall endevours amongst the people with whom I lately laboured James Garlickhithe was in the instruction and so far as I and others of their Christian acquaintance can judge sanctification â—f some young men and young women that did with constancy and diligence against all discouragements submit unto and study their Catechism Lastly To your patronage it is commended for that your exhortation to the duty pressed in it and pursued by it gives the Author full assurance of your readinesse to patronize it and by your power to protect it against the common carpers and cavillers at every truth and duty with which our age abounds and with the clemency that becomes your assembly indulge the infirmities of its author in the weak management of so weighty a matter Having given you the reasons of my boldnesse in this Dedication I must crave leave to apologize in one thing my not complying with your exhorting directions for carrying on the work of Catechizing that is in respect of the Form to be used I doe not indeed use nor have I put into the hands of my people the Catechisms of the late reverend Assembly not that I do disown or in any thing dislike those Forms I sully assent to the Characters by you given of them and by which you commend them but the form I have chosen and put into the hands of my people is that of reverend Mr. Ball the goodnesse nay acceptablenesse of which among people is proclaimed by the very many reiterated impressions of it neither doth it differ in doctrine any thing and in form not much from the Assemblies The impulsive cause of my using this form was this In the countrey where I lived this was the Catechism used in common in the use of this I had by the blessing of God been constant some that had learned this under my Ministry in the Countrey made mention of it amongst the people with whom I then laboured in so much that they generally desired this Catechism and would admit no other I condescending to their desire in a three years use of it not only did the fame of it come to the ears but many Catechisms into the hands of this people before your exhortation came abroad so that I could not conveniently alter the form herein I must beg and cannot but hope that none of my brethren will be offended or censure me as guilty of singularity and the rather for that you cannot but all conclude by this Catechism Exhort to Catech. youth may be taught who made them why he made them how good and happy man was made by God how evill and wretched he made himself what need he had that the Lord Jesus should die for him that the holy Ghost should regenerate him what priviledges he doth enjoy and may expect by Christ what duties he is obliged to by those priviledges how he is to present his petitions to God how to receive the seals of Gods gracious covenant which being granted I must expect your promise not too morosely to stand on circumstantial differences where there is so fair an accord in material principles Reverend Fathers and Brethren now that you have so seriously and seasonably called unto Catechizing I could heartily wish that confirmation of children which I cannot but look on as an engagement to the study of the Catechism were taken into your serious and second thoughts and if found as it hath been deemed an Ordinance of God some means were propounded for the reviving it in the Church but herein I may seem too bold and be thought to prescribe matter to your considerate debates I shall therefore forbear any further to trouble you but assure you that God will counsell you in things which concern his Church make men in place and power a blessing to his Church give to brethren a spirit of union with and condescansion to your just and pious resolves and to our people of ready and cheerfull submission to your exhortations and commands and that not only because you exhort and command duties but also with the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ is and shall be the hearty and constant prayer of Reverend Sirs The meanest of your brethren and servants in the work of the Gospel
least Catechizing nay the Pope himself with all his cursed crew do acknowledge the ground we have gotten of them hath been by Catechizing the Pope complains that the greatest hurt that the sons of the Heretiques had ever done him was by their pestilential writings adorned with the title of Catechisms and the ground which they have gotten again of the Churches of God hath bren by their more strict exacting of their Catechisms and our neglect of so profitable a duty Adv. 2 2. The second Advantage is the propagation of Religion to posterity which lies on every Christian as his positive duty to advance and endevour and therefore God commands the knowledge of his Works and Word to be made known to sons and sons sons children and childrens children Deut. 4.9 It was this standing Law of transmitting Religion to posterity by Catechizing Children that induced the Psalmist to propound publish and provoke attention to the Catecheticall Doctrine of the Jewes in Psal 78. And one great reason why God would make known his secrets unto Abraham was that care God found in him by Catechizing to convey the knowledge of him his works and judgements to posterity By this means succeeding generations are enabled to accomplish the undertaking of progenitors in the solemn commemorations of the special mercies of God Hereby the Jewes as the Rabbies tell us retain a reverent esteem of their deliverance out of Aegypt with all its concomitants and effects nay by this the truth of Christian Religion hath been continued above sixteen hundred years and notwithstanding the rage and fury of persecutors endevouring the utter eradication and extinction of it hath by Catechisticall seed been derived unto and revived by succeeding generations Adv. 3 Thirdly it prepares to ripenesse in knowledge being as the first draught of a picture the base and ground-plot on which the building is set the first rules of any art or science which well learned makes ready for perfection in the Art and Science and therefore it is called the beginning of the Doctrine of Christ and it is to be observed on experience that they that have attained to the most perfect measure of knowledge of the Doctrine of Christ were by Catechizing well entred into the beginnings of it Adv. 4 Fourthly it makes us profit by the Word when read by or preached to us whilest by Catechizing men are enabled to refer what they read to their proper heads of Divinity and resolve them into summary conclusions which are very much informing to the judgement and convincing to the conscience and clearly to discern truth from error and distinguish between truth and truth and see their dependance one on another differ the Law from the Gospel with their different ends of humiliation and comfort whereby their understanding acting clearly and orderly will help the memory to retain quicken the affection and make their growth sensible discernible which being clouded by a confused knowledge makes many times profiting Christians to complain of barrennesse under the Word The care of the Apostles to feed first with milk of principles such as they endevoured to make and approve profitable under the meat of higher Ministerial Doctrines doth clearly commend to us this benefit of Catechizing besides the cause of the Hebrewes incapacity of receiving and profiting by higher Doctrines is expresly declared to be the little proficiency they had made in the principles of Religion and experimental observation doth witnesse that preaching doth little good where Catechizing is wanting for we may well say with Bullinger Bulling Decad. 5. Ser. 4. fol. 907. How shall the people profit when they understand not their Pastour when he preacheth Law Covenant or Grace c. Adv. 5 Fifthly It prevents their falling into fundamental errors and following pernicious doctrine whilest by this means truth is founded and firmly fixed in their mindes and memories as a rule ready at hand to try all that is preached in the Name of the Lord as a touchstone reserved to detect all such falsities as are gilded over with the name of Truth when directly contrary thereunto as a root whose several branches being soundly setled in the soul makes them bear up the head and stand to their Christian station against the stormy tempest of all seducing doctrine nay these are seeds of such solid comforts and earnests of such eternall joyes as bears up the heart cheerfully to embrace and readily to submit unto the most exquisite and cruel torments hell or earth can execute upon them rather then to deny the Faith recede from the Truth and make shipwrack of a good Conscience souls soundly Catechized are noble Bereans receiving and beleeving the Word because confirmed by and consonant to Scripture not because spoken by Apostles their judgements are swayed to the receiving of principles by sound reason not by by a seeming sanctified life of the author or publisher knowing that false Apostles are deceitful workers 2 Cor. 11.13 14 15. and transform themselves into the Apostles of Christ and no marvel for Satan is transformed into an Angel of light it is no great thing then if his Ministers transform themselves as though they were the Ministers of righteousnesse whose end will be according to their works such are Merindolian Martyrs able to exhibit such Scriptural confessionsof faith as shall convince and confound such doctors as are appointed to convince them of Heresie or more properly to seduce them from the truth of Christ which they called Heresie so as to confesse that an eight daies study of such a confession doth teach more Scripture then all the daies of their lives * As did the Doctor appointed by the Bishop of Caveillon to detect the Heresies in the confession by them exhibited before whose children are hereby enabled to confound learned Prelates and astonish reverend Doctors making Catechisticall teaching to * As the religious man of Paris did professe hearing the Children of Merindoll Catechize one another Fox his Acts and Monuments p 866. transcend the divine Disputations in the Schools of Sorborne in Paris nay in a word by this means they are so confirmed and established in the faith that they will sooner submit themselves their wives and children I and their whole town to the cruel rage of outragious enemies then suffer themselves to be moved away from the truth received and professed by them This exercise of Catechizing hath been so effectuall to the establishing of souls in the truth that many by it have been prepared to Martyrdome and enabled with admirable patience to endure bitter scourging and cruel torments Seven of Origens Scholars at one time and burnings even in their young and tender years in defence of the truth it is to the everlasting honour of some of the Martyrs Chronicled in Ecclesiastical story that they received the crown of Martyrdome being yet but Catechumenists whereas the reason of others falling away from the faith in the time of persecution is noted to be
that they were not yet fully instructed in the Doctrine of Christ Adv. 6 Sixthly It puts into a present capacity of communion at the Lords Table it prepareth the heart unto the right and worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and thereby delivers the soul from the great danger of eating and drinking judgement to himself whilest that by Catechizing they are fully informed and convinced of that faith and Doctrine openly professed and sealed by the Lords Supper and therefore necessary to be known before the participation of this ordinance whilest hereby they are invested with that necessary qualification of knowledge concerning mans misery by sin recovery by Christ Gods Covenant with man established in the hands of a Mediator the author end and institution of this Ordinance all which being Catetheticall heads must needs encourage the desirous communicants readily to submit themselves to the trial of the Church with their desire of admission to the Lords Table with an assured confidence that their communion cannot be denied on the account of ignorance whilest hereby they are enabled to the discharge of that necessary duty of self-examination required by the Apostle in the Name of the Lord 1 Cor. 11.28 in that by Catechizing they come to know all those necessary qualifications requisite to render the soul sutable for communion with God at this Table whilest they are made capable of discerning the Lords Body in a Christian way to distinguish the outward sign from the inward grace and thing signified whilest hereby being delivered from Popish darknesse they are well taught that outward elements are set before their outward senses to resemble and represent to the inward man the body and bloud of Jesus Christ nay in a word whilest hereby they have in readinesse matter of contemplation sutable to such an Ordinance to the affectation of their hearts and excitation of their affections in their enjoyment hereby they are in a good capacity of renewing their covenant with Goâ— of receiving the sealing efficacy of that Ordinance to the soul and with the Jewes to render an accompt to any that shall demand of them the ground and end of their so frequent celebration of their Christian Passeover whereas through the want of this exercise men are in danger of rushing unworthily and unpreparedly to the receiving of this Sacrament to presse unreverently to take those things they do not know or understand the ground end or meaning of to taste those dainties that belong not to them and take in hand those duties they know not how to manage in this regard the primitive times alwaies by their Cry of holy things for holy men sent away among the common hearers and penitentiaries the Catechumeni or such as were learning their Catechism as men not yet sutable for this Sacrament Hence also it is that the Canons and constitutions of the Church of God in all ages even in the most corrupt times require that every one be Catechized before they receive the Sacrament and this is the cause why the Discipline of the Church in this age and time requires an accompt of the knowledge of every one desirous of the Lords Supper that if any be found ignorant by reason of the past neglect of this duty they may by diligent Catechizing be made fit for it and so be admitted to it Adv. 7 Seventhly It puts on a man a powerful disposition of discharging his duty towards God and man in that by Catechizing they are not only taught to know the several Commandements of the first and second Table but also are well instructed to distinguish duties appertaining to God from such as belong to man and to discern the several sins forbidden and duties therein commanded Isaac's prayer and meditation his submission in all things to his father and the servants prayer to the God of his Master Abraham and faithfulnesse concerning his Master's Oath was before noted to be the fruit of Catechizing and it is to be observed on experience that such are most apt to rebellion and disobedience towards men who are not Catechized in the Doctrine of God and therefore Constantine when he would select to himself such of his Court Officers as he would confide in to be trusty Counsellors and defenders of his person and Kingdome tryed which of them were best instructed in the faith and fear of God declaring such only were worthy to be about a Prince as servants that being true to their God would be loyall to him Reas 5 The fifth and last reason why Catechizing should be used in the Church of God is the easinesse thereof which is very much and so found upon experience for it suiteth the Doctrine of Christ to the weakest capacity that is and puts words into the mouth so as that by diligence in this exercise the soul that is most ignorant knowing nothing of God may be able in a short time to give an account of his faith to any that shall aske it because of the facility of it Children are in Scripture declared to be the subjects thereof and it is called rudiments in which children not men of years are wont to be instructed milk with which babes and not men of strength are to be nourished and although at the first it may seem as all other ordinances of God something difficult yet a willing and diligent minde will prove it very easie for it being a piece of the Lords yoke which is all of it easie to be borne cannot but be pleasant to the willing spirit although the flesh may be found weak in submission to it Having thus briefly past the Reasons of the point which I hope upon serious thoughts may clearly convince any of the divine stamp of this exercise and so justifie the use of it in the Churches of God we come in the next place by way of illustration to the truth to consider what must be the matter and manner of this exercise of Catechizing And First then of the subject Matter to be taught by Catechizing which must not be as the Papist wickedly corrupting this exercise and Ordinance of God do make to teach matters altogether unprofitable nay vain false and frivolous as the traditions of Fathers the Canons of the Councel and constitutions of the Church inconsistent with the Doctrine of Scripture nay in many things directly contrary thereunto neither yet must it be nice and curious points though true yet fruitlesse and unprofitable tending more to tickle the brain and affect the sense then to take with the heart and inform the judgement but the matter of Catechizing must be all and only the chief heads and standing verities of the Christian Religion summarily extracted out of the Scripture and solidly grounded upon the same that they may be propounded as infallible rules for the triall of the assertions as standing principles whence may naturally flow all conclusions conducing to the profession of Christ with stedfastnesse and comfort and as a sure foundation upon
I shall satisfie my self in shewing you wherein they differ which I hope may satisfie you that they may not be confounded the which Mr. Greenham that reverend and godly Author hath in part done before me who notes them to differ in these three things unto which I shall adde two other First Preaching is the dilating of one member of the Christian Religion into a whole Treatise Catechizing is the contracting of the whole into a sum Secondly Preaching is unto all sorts but Catechizing only to the younger and rude or ignorant Thirdly Preaching is not exacted to be repeated Catechizing is exacted Fourthly Catechizing principally informes the Judgement in the Theory of Christian Religion but Preaching doth chiefly excite the affections and directs the heart in the practise of the same Fifthly Catechizing layeth the foundation of Christ in the soul and preaching builds upon it that teacheth the ABC or first rudiments this perfecteth the knowledge of Christian Doctrine Having thus spoken of the matter we come in the next place to speak unto you of the manner of Catechizing concerning which we shall propound three things to be considered First Some rules concerning the formes of Catechism to be used Secondly Who must Catechize and how they must demean themselves in this duty Thirdly Who must be Catechized and how they must carry themselves in it First of the first of these concerning the formes of Catechizing to be used observe these four rules 1. The matter heads and grounds of Catechizing are contained and expressed in Scripture and therefore alwaies the same but the formes are not but left to the liberty of the Church and therefore variable so as that we are not so precisely tyed to the form as we are to the matter 2. Such formes are most fitting as may be found to tend most to the edification of the Church in confirming them in the truths and principles most opposed in which respect the Church hath taken liberty to vary 3. It is very expedient and profitable that there be in the Church two formes of Catechism a shorter and more easie for the younger sort which are not yet able to learn and commit to memory a larger and a larger wherein for the riper sort the principles of Religion are more fully handled 4. Every form used must be found brief plain orderly and by way of question and answer easie for that this form of teaching is most expedient as by way of question and answer First it is most sutable to the rude and ignorant infant capacity by putting words into their mouthes helping them to answer and understand when they see the question propounded and answer to be rendred Secondly As enjoyned to the people of Israel who are required to whet upon their children their Catechetical Doctrine which can no otherwaies be done then by repetition of the strokes of the same subject Thirdly As practised by Jesus Christ when willing to receive an account of his Disciples profiting under his Ministry and to confirm them in the Faith in opposition to the common fame of the world Whom say ye that I am Fourthly As that which puts them into an aptitude and readiness of rendring an account of the faith that is in them to every one that asketh being hereby better enabled to retain and resolve answers proper to questions suddenly propounded but before known then the knowledge of bare notions without the questions to which they answer The second thing considerable in the manner of Catechizing is the persons that must Catechize together with their carriage in this duty now the persons that must do it will be found to be three sorts of men 1. Ministers in their Congregations 2. Schoolmasters in their Schools 3. Masters of families in their families The first sort that must Catechize must be Ministers that have taken upon them the Pastoral charge of a congregation to feed them with knowledge and understanding according to the several capacities of the souls as well young as old under their charge and that it is their duty may appear by these ensuing reasons First The careful performance of this duty by the faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ and most eminent and reverend Fathers of the primitive times not to stand upon the probability of Paul's Catechizing from 1 Cor. 14.19 it is much more than probable that it was done in the Church of the Hebrewes by the Author of this Epistle who sharply checks their non-proficiency in this duty Eusebius tels us that before Pantenus Clemens Origen Mark the Evangelist did Catechize at Alexandria which was commended in him by Philo Judeus which three were themselves Catechizers in the same Church of Alexandria in the years of our Lord Two hundred and two hundred and fifty each succeeding other Origen being set up by the diligent oversight of Demetrius their Bishop and after whom succeeded Heraclus and Dionysius Alexandrinus and others also about the same time we read of Optatus Catechizer at Carthage in the daies of Cyprian also the severall Catechisms of the Fathers as Cyrill Gregory Nicen the books of Augustine de Catechizandis rudibus and his four books ad Catechumenos Athanasius his Synopsis of sacred Scripture and Fulgentius de fide ad diaconum do proclaim that conscionable care they had to the discharge of this duty and the duty of Ministers for the edifying of the body of Christ being alwaies one and the same their conscionable discharge of this exercise doth declare it to be a Ministerial duty Secondly A Minister by preaching doth not discharge his duty if he neglect Catechizing because thereby he instructs only those that are adulti men of years and strength to digest such meats and either wholly neglects to feed youth no lesse committed to his charge as members of the Church or else administers that food which is unsutable and cannot be by them digested in stead of the milk of principles of Religion of which even babes in Christ and almost in years are capable and truly we have cause to suspect one great cause of young mens high flown opposition of the truth and Ordinances of God to spring from their affected hearing of those things in preaching which they cannot digest into orderly nourishment because they have not by the milk of Catechizing been prepared thereunto Thirdly Ministers ought to Catechize to make all his pains and preaching the more profitable to his hearers by keeping fresh in their mindes and memories those standing notions of Christian Religion which he doth by preaching more particularly illustrate more fully prove and more powerfully apply to their affections Fourthly That thereby he may more clearly discern the estate of his flock observe the Masters of families in their proper places to discharge their duties and see their proficiency in grace and knowledge under all the Ordinances of God by him dispensed confirming them in the truth learned which is clear to have been the reason of Christ his Catechizing of his Disciples
is conveighed the immortal seed informing them in the Doctrine of God sinfull nature and their own covenant with God in Baptism Thirdly That they may propagate Religion to posterity according to their duty in Deut. 4.9 Gen. 18.18 unto which end as we before noted Catechizing is singularly instrumental Fourthly That they may prepare their families even in the time of their youth to bear witnesse to the truth unto the confusion of the enemies thereof as did the Children of Merindoll nay under the most exquisite torments to rejoyce in and encourage to patient constancy in the faith of Christ for this hath added much force unto the truth of God in all ages that it hath not only been sealed with the bloud of men of age and gray hairs but also youth even of Infants who have been unmovably fixed in it which how could they have been or their parents encourage them to it and endear them to themselves by it if they had not been well instructed in the Doctrine of Christ and their Parents discharged their duty in Catechizing them betimes of the which we shall finde severall instances in the third persecution under Adrian the Emperour we read of Symphorisa a godly matron martyred with her seven children and Sophia with her three children also in the fourth persecution under Antoninus Verus we read of the seven children of Felicitas cruelly and diversly martyred before her eyes her self chearfully also sealing the truth with death so also a woman of Syria and her two daughters and Athanasia and her three daughters What shall I say of young Eulatia and others under the Heathens besides the constancy of a boy of eight or nine years old well instructed by his father John Fatty who was by Bonner cruelly whipped for his profession What shall I say of Vitalis who suffered with his godly Master Agrico of John Leaf an Apprentice who was with Mr. Bradford burned at the nineteenth year of his age of Tho. Hinshaw cruelly whipped in Bonner's garden for the Truth but above all I cannot passe with silence the Childe which witnessed the truth of God with renowned Romanus when but seven years of age who having witnessed the profession of it under cruel whipping and at last having his skin pull'd off his head was thus encouraged by his godly Mother My childe thirst after the cup of which the Children of Bethleem did drink remember Isaac 's obedience unto death suffer a little my childe thou shalt anon go to him that will cover thy naked head with a crown of eternall glory and when after with a smiling countenance he had approved himself invincible by suffering torments and was cruelly beheaded to the grief of the beholders and great joy of the Mother only standing by with dry eyes singing to Gods glory All praise with heart and voice O Lord we yeeld to thee To whom the death of all thy Saints we know most dear to be This constancy of the childe and comfort of the Mother must needs witnesse the truth of his answer to the Captain that he sucked in the Doctrine of Christ with his mothers milk and much enforce this Reason for Masters of families Catechizing The fifth and last Reason why Masters of families should Catechize may be this That they may preserve the Church of God in their houses faithfully discharge the Prophetical office to which they are redeemed by Jesus Christ in instructing their families in matters of Faith and obedience whereby they are enabled to discharge their several duties towards God and man that they may sweeten relation and the performances of their priestly office in prayer and praises to be presented with faith and fear with fervor and feeling whilest by diligent Catechizing they are enabled to do all with knowledge and understanding Having thus shewed you who must Catechize we shall briefly shew you what they must do in the performance of this duty before we shew you who must be Catechized First The Catechism ready and the Catechized present they must as in every other Ordinance of God begin with hearty and earnest prayer to the most wise God for his blessing on this divine exercise that it may tend to the edification of all concerned in it Secondly Propound the questions and require an audible answer thereunto for it is most expedient that the Catechism be by question and answer as was before noted Thirdly Audibly repeat the question and answer that such as stand by may be sure to hear observe and have it the better imprinted in their mindes and memories Fourthly Cause the Catechized according to their capacities to prove the several propositions expressed in the questions and answers by some sutable places of Scripture that they may be able to discern them to be the truths of God grounded on his Word Fifthly according to their several abilities and in their proper places they must explain the several propositions that they may the better be understood and the heart be the more affected with the same and also take notice of the principal errors that do oppose them they must perform the whole duty cheerfully and reverently as becomes an ordinance of God praising the forward encouraging the willing patiently bearing with the weak and gravely admonishing the unruly We come now to shew you who must be Catechized in the consideration whereof we shall first shew who were wont to be Catechized in the primitive times and then who amongst us ought to subject themselves to this duty In the primitive times they did usually Catechize two sorts the one before and the other after Baptism those that were Catechized before Baptism were Heathens converted from their Paganism to the knowledge of the true God who before they were received into the fellowship of Jesus Christ were Catechized Justin Martyr in his second Apologie for the Christians declares that if any Heathen man desired to be received into the fellowship of the Church he was first Catechized in the principles of Religion and then hearing further the Word of God as it were the conditions of the covenant afterward came into the face of the congregation and made a profession thereof promising their obedience thereunto and so they were baptized and received as members such an one was Augustine when converted from Manichism he was Catechized and then Baptized in which time of his Catechism he wrote many books so Ambrose was in his Catechism and not baptized when chosen Bishop of Millaine such as these were the Burgundians whom Socrates declares to have been seven daies in Catechizing and baptized in the eighth day Jerom ad Pannachium makes mention of such as were in his daies Catechized forty daies and then baptized in Tertullian's daies they did Catechize till Easter or Whitsontide and then baptize in a word such as these were Catechumeni and novices sent away from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper The second sort Catechized were the children of the faithful who had been baptized in their Infancy
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
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
age of it we must needs resolve it elder then Methuselah whilest we may trace the foot-steps of it from Adam to this present age this duty was before the floud practised by Adam as the learned do conclude whose sons we finde offering sacrifice to the Lord in Gen. 4. unto which their father had instructed and brought them up as well as to labour in the world catechizing them in the Doctrine of the Fall and of the Seed of the woman typified by their sacrifice whereby they were fitted for the right and reverent performance of the worship of God Also it may be probably conjectured that others of the Patriarchs did practise this duty Henoch the seventh from Adam of whom it is recorded that he walked with God Gen. 5.14 received his name Henoch from an Hebrew root Hanach before noted to signifie to initiate or instruct in the principles of Religion as one dedicated unto God or instructed from his youth after the floud they had this exercise of Catechizing in the principles of Religion which was after put in writing Greenh as the learned conclude and called the oracles of Sibylla which were nothing else but things taught and delivered by word of mouth It is most clear that Abraham did use this exercise with much fruit and good in his family we read in Gen. 14.14 that Abraham brought out and armed three hundred and eighteen men brought up the Hebrew word Hanichim will bear it catechized or instructed in his house when he went to the rescue of his brother Lot Mr. Greenham observeth Greenhams Treat of Cate. p. 312. Isaac his going out to pray and the servant his pious and faithfull prosecution of his Masters oath in Gen. 24. to be the effect of Abraham his Catechizing and Mr. Downam doth very well observe Abrahams care and diligence in Catechizing to be the ground of Gods revealing his secrets and making known his Judgements to him in Gen. 18.19 I know him that he will command his sons and his houshold Downam's Directions that they shall keep my waies From this reason Doctor Willet observeth Willet in Locum that it was the godly practise of the Fathers to Catechize or instruct their families in the Doctrine of the creation of the world transgression of man destruction of the old world Gods providence the Messiah to be revealed and everlasting life to come with whom Paraeus doth concurre adding that before the Law Paraeus in Locum there was no publick Ministry but the Fathers were Priests Pastors and Teachers and the family were the Catechumeni learning the Doctrines above recited neither may we think this duty to have been neglected by Isaac Jacob or Job and others of the Patriarchs the Hebrew Rabbies tell us See also Pemble's Preface that Samuel was brought unto Eli that he might fit before Eli the Priest and be by him accustomed to or taught in the Law or the Precepts as the Catechumeni were wont to be taught David and Bathsheba were very diligent in the Catechizing or instruction of Solomon their son in the waies of wisdome as himself declares in Prov. 4.4 He taught me and said unto me Let thine heart hold fast my words from whence Lavater inserreth the duty of Lavater in Loc. and induceth by the example all Christian parents betimes to instruct their children in the chief heads of Christian Religion also Jehoiadah the Priest had well taught and instructed the young King Joash whereby he was enabled to rule and did rule well all the daies of Jehoiadah neither may we think this duty was neglected by Josiah that good King who in the time of his youth set himself to serve the Lord with zeal and sincerity and also after the captivity if we beleeve the Hebrew Rabbies from the time of Antiochus Epiphanes unto Christ there were never under four hundred houses of Catechizing in Jerusalem at which time also they made their Decree that at thirteen years of age their children should be put to Catechizing to which practise S. Paul seems to allude when he speaks of the Jewes as Catechized in the Law Rom. 2.18 And as we find the footsteps of Catechizing in all the ages of the Jewish Church so we shall find it ceased not in them but was also practised in all the ages of the Christian Churches since the time of Christ for besides what was before noted of Christ his submission to it at twelve years of age amongst the Jewes he seems practically to commend it to us by Catechizing his Disciples concerning their perswasion of himself in opposition to the ignorant conceits of the men of the world in Mat. 16. chap. 13.16 vers Whom say men that I am Whom say ye that I am after Christs ascension this exercise was very perspicuous Greenham's Treat of Catechizing p. 664. Mr. Greenham brings in Aegisippus report that by reason of Catechizing there was never a Nation in the world but received an alteration in their Heathenish Religion within forty years after Christ in the Apostles daies and primitive times of the Church of God there were two sorts Catechized the one adulti Infidels converted to the faith such was Theophilus who is in Luk. 1.4 said to have been Catechized so also Apollos Act. 18.25 the Eunuch and Cornelius his houshold such was Raib Augustine Ambrose and divers others some of which were called to Martyrdome when in their Catechism all which were instructed in the Catechetical heads of the text and then baptized A second sort were Children such as were born under the covenant of believing Parents who were baptized and afterward Catechized and made able to professe their faith when they were confirmed by the laying on of hands We read of many that bare the office of Catechizing in the Church of God some think Paul to have been employed in it by reason of that expression 1 Cor. 14.59 that I may Catechize others Eusebius mentioneth Mark to have been Catechizer at Alexandria as also Clemens Origen and Heraclas and others of the Fathers in other places Gregorie Nyssen Cyrill c. The Church had the Books of Augustine De rudibus Catechizandis and Books de Symbolo ad Catechumenos also Athonasius his Synopsis of sacred Scaipture with others of the like nature In after ages this exercise was owned and enjoyned by the Canons of Neocesaria Iberis Braccaria and others before Luther's time who also in his time among other things contended for Catechizing with a spirit of zeal making it of absolute necessity in the Church as Lord and Ruler urging the continuance of it without intermission condemning the neglect thereof after whom the several reformed Churches enjoyned it and exhibited the necessity of it in their several confessions composing Catechisms sutable to the degrees of reformation enjoyned and obtained This exercise of Catechizing appearing to have been thus anciently observed as well in the Jewish as Christian Churches I hope will silence all thoughts
of the novelty thereof and lead us to the consideration of the third reason which is the necessity of so ancient a duty Reas 3 Thirdly Catechizing must be used in the Church of God because it is exceeding necessary which necessity upon serious second thoughts will appear to be great unto all such as desire to be found good proficients in the School of Christ even as necessary as ABC to a childe first going to School as the rudiments of any Arts or Science a man desieth to know and professe as a foundation to building without which it cannot stand as milk for babes new born and therefore it is in Scripture held out in such termes and similitudes viz. Principles Elements Foundation Milk c. All which the Apostle useth in the Text teaching us that this neglected the soul cannot be established in the Doctrine of Christ but be alwaies unstable and as children ready to be tossed to and fro with every winde of doctrine cannot be prepared for and made capable of higher learning to read readily the Doctrine of the Lords Priesthood and their priviledges thereby and those things that should tend to the perfecting of their faith and compleating of their comforts this was the great cause of our Authors sharp reproof of the Hebrewes in the Text for when he came to communicate to and teach them higher lessons in the Schoole of Christ they were not yet perfect in the first form of the principles of Religion nay they cannot grow forward in the graces of Gods Spirit but like children without milk be lank and lean alwaies ready to exspire that principle of life that is in them nay lastly they cannot unchatechized act and move orderly and methodically in the practise of their Christian duties but be very incident to confusion and disorder for without all doubt one great cause of all that confusion that is in mens mindes and actions in these daies is the want of Catechizing whereby they might be enabled to digest those general notions that flie in their brains into certain solid heads and principles which might be standing rules for their direction It being then an exercise so very necessary I hope none can or will deny it to be a usefull duty in the Church especially if we consider the next Reason which is the profit and comfort of this exercise Reas 4 Fourthly Then we shall finde Catechizing as not to be needlesse so to be very profitable and comfortable to the Church of God in general and the subjects of it in particular for by serious enquiry and sensible observation we shall finde it no barren plant in the Lords garden nor yet fruitlesse ordinance to be rejected but that which rightly used and skilfully improved doth produce to the comfort of all Gods children these several advantages Advantages of Catechizing 1. The preservation of the purity of Religion 2. The propagation of it to posterity 3. Preparednesse to increases in the knowledge of Christ 4. Profit by the Word 5. Prevention of falling into error 6. Present capacity of communion at the Lords Table 7. Powerfull disposition to dutie Advantage 1 First then it preserveth the good estate of the Church in the maintenance of purity of Religion for a Catechism rightly framed and grounded on the Scripture is a brief abstract and compendium of the Law and the Testimony whereby all corruptions of doctrine or practise is easily and suddenly discerned and detected and by diligence in this exercise truth is made like the Goldsmiths touchstone ready to receive with approbation all golden doctrine thereunto consonant but to make men fear to tender or if any dare presume readily to reject all base metals of false doctrines or practical innovations that are thereunto dissonant and yet may be sometimes imposed on the Church for this sum of Scripture as it may be called or to use Luthers word Bible of the people or sum of Christian Religion doth with more perspicuity and celerity conclude the truth and with more facility and speed pull off the vizard of a Sic dixit Dominus thus saith the Lord from the face of all false Prophets and Seducers then the reading comparing and considering of the whole body of the Scripture and resolving the same into Catechistical principles which must be the way to oppugn the untruths imposed even as Hippocrates Aphorisms in cases of Physick Cokes Institutes in cases of Law and the short axiomes and standing principles of Philosophy doe more quickly and sharply detect all contrary assertions then the more large and ample Treatises and discussions of the same Hence it may be more then probable that the reason why the Lord Jesus did no more particularly by quoting books chapters and verses prove the truth and purity of his Doctrine preached to the Jewes was for that as the Apostle saith in Rom. 2.18 they knew his will and tryed those things that did dissent from it being as was noted before catechized in the Law we may afso observe that Paul gave Timothy a Catechistical sum of Christian Doctrine which in 2 Tim. 1.13 he cals a * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Rom. 6.12 it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Analogie of Faith form of sound words and chargeth him to keep fast the same as a preservative of the purity of Religion against the corruptions which our nature is too prone to receive hence also it was that the fathers of the primitive times did usually resolve certain Catechistical * As the Nicene Creed Ephesine and of the several Councels against the Haeresies of Arrius Macedonius and Eudoxius Nestorius and Eutyches verities into short and standing principles for the defending of the Church in the pure truth of Christ Godhead the like against the Arrian other Heresies and moreover we may observe the Devils strongest engine against the purity and prosperity of Religion to have been the obstruction of this exercise when he stirred up Julian the Apostate as his cursed instrument to make a more furious attempt and prevailing assault then the ten first persecutions on the Christian Religion by taking away Christian books and putting down all Schools of Cateehizing for the Devil and his instruments were and are sensible that Catechizing is the thing that impedes the rising of his kingdome for that by it the foundation of Christian Doctrine doth not only remain firm but also the meanest members of the Church are made in some measure capable of contending for the truth and communicating the same to such as by the enjoyment of other parts and abilities are likely to enter the lists with truths opposers in its defence though many eminent pillars even faithfull Ministers of the Gospel be by their rage cut off so that Martyrdome cannot master it but rather propagate it For sanguis Martyrum becomes semen Ecclesiae by watering these Catechetical heads of Gospell Doctrine and therefore the Spanish Jesuites were wont to say they had most hopes when there was