Christ and his ways are you not ashamed of your filthy ignorance and will you be ashamed to use the means to cure it But yet where there is an unconquerable bashfulness which yet in this case should be laboured against there may be means found to instruct such in a less publique way Object 4. But Catechising is for children we are grown up to be of mens and womens estate Answ If you have not yet learned it is more then time to begin now Your age is no presciption against a duty that God requires You should rather bemoan your mispent youth and redeem your lost time then plead it in Bar against your future knowledge do you ever intend to learn or no if not you will unavoidably perish in your ignorance if you do then begin while you have time and opportunities and means offered you There be children in understanding as well as children in age and those need instruction as well Muscul in Ps 19.7 or rather more then these Of old not young children onely but those of riper years if ignorant were to be catechised In those places before instanced they that were able to ask a reason of every piece of Gods service were to be instructed and these were past children The Chatechumens or persons to be catechised mentioned above were all such as were converted to the faith whether young or old in which form they continued till they were fully instructed in Christian Religion and fitted for the highest Ordinances Object But what is this but to teach children by roat like Parots what they do not understand Answ It is not the bare saying of a Catechism by heart but the understanding it that we mainly drive at we shall labor to make them understand it as far as they are capable though some may not be able to understand it others areâ— 2. Though they who are very young can but say it yet as age and discretion come on they will increase in knowledg He that now onely learned may come in a little time to understand the meaning on 't But he will never understand who never learned There he some terms of Art in all Sciences which the learner must get though he understand them not when he comes to make use of them then he will understand them Object 6. What is this but to take Gods work out of his hand whose work it is to teach and who hath promised that in Gospel times we shall be all taught of God Answ God in this as usually in other things works by means he teaches us by the Ministery of men This reason is as much against Preaching as Catechizing We might expect such an Objection from super-Ordinance men and to them we would suit another Answer But not from them who acknowledge Gods Ordinances those who are taught by Gods Ministers according to Gods Commands Rules and Directions those God teaches We take not Gods work out of his hand but like his Ushers we teach under him and or him By this time I hope you that are Parents and Masters see the conveniency excellency and necessity of instructing your Families and Children and Servants see that it is their duty and for their great advantage to learn I come now to the last stage of my intended journey upon this subject 3 Branch of Exhortation which is to press all sorts of people of what age or degree soever to a chearful submission to this necessary work of instruction in the fundamentals of Religion Not that I intend the bringing of the aged to publick Catechizing though I shall shew you anon what the Reformed Churches think fit in this case but that they would submit to private personal instruction in the points which be necessarily to be known for their salvation I easily foresee the difficulty of the work which I have in hand against which flesh and blood will undoubtedly make head For first there is naturally a willingness in mens hearts to conceal their miserable ignorance whereof they would not be thought guilty We desire to hide our spiritual defects as well as our natural ones The ignorant as well as the prophane hates the light that he may not be discovered Secondly We shall meet with the horrid pride which too often accompanies such black ignorance of those who think themselves too wise to learn of whom I may say as it was said of others in the like case they might have attained to a good stock of knowledge if they had not thought themselves wise enough too soon There is no greater enemy to knowledge then presuming ignorance Multi ad sapientiae vestigium pervenissent nisi se jam pervenisse putassent Plin. Pride and self conceit bar the door against instruction Those who think themselves rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing when they are poor and naked and miserable are hardliest convinced of their sad condition Rev. 3.17 Isa 47.10 Prov. 12.1 Thirdly The Devil will never be wanting with all hiâ— skill malice and interest to divert or binder a work so directly tending to the overthrow of his Kingdom We have an essay of his good will to works of this nature Acts 19 â—8 20 21. when the word of God began to be manifested and to prevail with some to bring them out of his power he surs up Demetrius who put the people in an uproar against Paul where had not providence diverted their fury he might have been torn to pieces amongst them What between these several oppositions which we easily forecast and others which we cannot so readily see we may say as Paul did that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against Principalities c. But be the opposition what it will Gods mind must not be concealed nor our duties undiscovered for fear of displeasing the Devil and his Partizans If it appear not to be Gods mind we leave you to your liberty but if it be then whether you will hear or whether you will forbear we must lay it before you And I hope that God will so effectually convince you of your duties in this particular that none shall be able to open his mouth against it nor refuse it unless it be such as apprehend not the benefit of it or wilfully shut their eyes against the clear light of Scripture To such I shall onely propose these insuing considerations which by Gods grace may serve to quicken them to their Duty Sect. 1. Ignorance is a damning sin in all the mind without knowledge is not good it darkens the understanding Prov. 19.2 Eph. 4.18 Isa 5.13 Hos 4.1 Job 21.14 and alienates from the life of God this is one main ground of Gods controversie against a Land when they have no knowledge It is a character of the worst of men not to desire the knowledge of his ways But it is much worse in aged persons who have had more time and opportunities to learn Job 32.7 9. Days should speak and
duty may not grow chill and cold again I have been induced by the perswasion of some of your selves and others to suffer this Exhortation to be made publique for your benefit that every one of you may have something by you that may help to quicken him to the getting the knowledg of the Principles of Religion which I have the rather inclined to because as you know since this was delivered to you God has shaken me by the shoulder once and again 2 Cor. 1.9 and shewed me that my bones are not brass nor my sinews iron so far that I even despair'd of life and seemed to have the sentence of death passed against me How long God may please to reprieve me to be further serviceable to your faith is known to him alone I would willingly leave something as a pledge of my tender affections to you in Christ Jesus that when this tabernacle of my flesh shall be taken down you may have a faithfull Remembrancer with you to minde you of that which is your greatest concernment The hearts of the Galatians were once so inflamed toward the Apostle that they would even have pulled out their eyes to have done him good I shall not impose any such rigid task upon you but only desire that the eyes of your understanding may be inlightned that ye may know God your selves and your duty If I had required some difficult or costly matter at your hand it would be more excusable should you scruple my request but since the motion which I have to make is no extraordinary task and tends so directly to the saving of your precious souls I cannot but promise my self the more ready acceptance That which I am to perswade you to is the making of your selves and families acquainted with God in Christ and that you would make it your business to set up the knowledg of God in your respective families There 's none of you who would be thought careless of the good of your houshold in things that appertain to this life how much more ought ye to be solicitous for them in things pertaining to a better life The instructing of them in the Principles of Religion is of that absolute necessity that without it there can be no salvation There 's no salvation but by Christ no benefit by Christ without faith no faith in him without knowledge no knowledge but by instruction And that I may proceed more distinctly and more effectually in this so weighty a work I shall 1. Propose such Motives as may quicken Parents and Masters in this duty viz. in instructing their children and servants themselves as far as they are able and in causing them to come and yield to this work in publique by the Minister 2. I shall bring some Motives to the yonger sort which may perswade them to submit themselves both to publique and private Catechizing and Instruction 3. I shall bring such arguments as may prevail with all sorts of people of what age or degree what rank or quality soever to a chearful submission to this necessary work of Instruction in the Fundamentals of Religion 1. Branch of Exhortation I begin with those whom God hath made Parents and Masters of Families to whom I shall propose these following considerations why they ought both to instruct their Families themselves and to bring them also to publique Instruction Sect. 1. Every Father and Master is in his own house a King Motives for Parents Masters a Priest and a Prophet house a King a Priest and a Prophet He is a King to govern them a Priest to pray with them and for them a Prophet to instruct and teach them If you will take upon you to rule and govern your Families you must instruct them too you would not be justled out of your command in your own houses you must not thrust your selves out of it by neglecting your instructing office We read of Nymphas Col. 4.15 that he had a Church in his house his house is stiled a Church not only because the faithful came thither to be instructed in the Faith and to hold communion in those times of persecution but also because he did carefully instruct those of his own Family in the knowledge of Christ and trained them up in spiritual and holy Dutys Familiam suam privatam fecit ecclesiam eam pietate religione exernans So Theodoret Sect. 2. God commands that we should instruct our Children and Family in the knowledg of God Deut. 4.9 10. Deut. 6.5 6. Deut. 11.19 20. Psal 78.6 Eph. 6.8 and the matters of Religion where we may observe 1. That they were to teach them it was not a matter Arbitrary left at pleasure but a Duty 2. What they should teach them the knowledg of God of his ways and Commandments not frivolous discourses Songs Tales Romances but Gods Statutes 3. How they should teach them diligently and constantly they must whet it often upon their memories and never leave them till they have made them understand 4. The great advantage that they should gain hereby both they and their children they should live long in the Land which God gave them If those were good motives to them how much stronger have we Was the Law which discovered their sin but could not cure it so diligently to be learned and shall not the Gospel which discovers a remedy for our sin be worth our knowledge should the Inheritance of an earthly possession quicken them to gain the knowledge of Gods law and shall not the enjoyment of a perpetuall rest quicken us to get acquaintance with Jesus Christ in the Gospel Sect. 3. God commands children to learn of their Parents and to hearken to their Instruction which implyes the Parents duty to teach them Prov. 6.20 21. My son keep the Commandment of thy Father and forsake not the law of thy Mother Bind them continually upon thine heart and tie them about thy neck Mercer The Commandments of Parents that fear the Lord are the very Commandments of God himself and therefore carefully to be kept Deut 6 8.11-18 Bind them continually a phrase frequent in Scripture importing that they should never forget them but that they should be always in our eye Exod. 12.26 Exod. 13.14 in our heart as our greatest ornament Nay it is not only their duty to learn when they are taught but also to be enquiring that they may learn which is plainly hinted in those texts If children had any sence of true Religion they would be enquiring into the nature ground and end of those services which were done to God for true Religion is the exercise of mind inlightned by Faith and Knowledge and not a piece of blind and ignorant devotion Josh 4.6 Deut. 32.7 A man should be able to give some account of every thing that he doth in Gods service and why and upon what account he doth it when they ask you ought to teach them Sect. 4.
Gods children have always made this their great care Abraham Gen. 18.19 I know Abraham that he will teach his children c. I know him he is a godly Man he will not neglect so necessary and important a duty as this Abraham were not the man I took him for indeed Abraham were not Abraham if he would not make a conscience of teaching his children and his houshold after him that they might walk in Gods ways Josh 24.15 Joshua is resolved upon the point that whatever others did he for his part would worship the true God and that none should nest under his roof who would not do so too We see what care David had of his Family Psal 101.6 7. when he professes that he who would not submit to Gods ways to know and do his will should not tarry in his sight Prov. 31.1 Solomons Mother was not wanting on her part she taught him a good Lesson if he had had the grace to have followed it What my Son Prov. 4.3 Vide Cartwright and what the son of my womb and what the son of my vows Give not thy strength unto women nor thy ways to that which dectroyeth Kings so did David Timothy was born of godly Parents 2 Tim. 1.5 3.15 as you may see he had a good Mother and a good Grand-mother and these taught him the Scriptures from his youth The Elect Lady's care was 2 John 4. that her children might be found walking in the truth Sect. 5. Parents and Masters are answerable for those miscarriages of their children into which they run for want of due instruction or correction If the Commandment be given to the Parents for their instruction government and puting them upon pious duties then at their hands will God exact an account for that ignorance and misbehavior which is found in them Deut. 4.9 10. Exod. 20 But we find God commanding them to instruct their Families and to keep them to his service Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day thou thy Son and thy Daughter thy Man-servant and Maid-servant c. The Command is given to the Parent and Master who are presumed to have authority enough to see their Commands obeyed and though the untaught and ungoverned Family should perish in their sin yet God will require their blood at their Parents and Masters hands Instances of Gods dealing with Parents for their neglect of this duty we have in Eli 1 Sam. 3.13 1 Kings 1.5 Chrys hom de educat lib. and in David too Sect. 6. This business in hand is a matter of the greatest concernment to them whatsoever be neglected this should not this is that unum necessarium without which they cannot be happy as they may without other things For first their souls are much more precious then their bodies these are but the caskets those the Jewels these are of the earth earthy those are of heaven heavenly one of their souls weighs more then all the world Many would cannot purchase it there 's no worldly things can be found sufficient for its exchange it cost more then so to redeem a soul You are carefull for their bodies that they want not food nor rayment nor lodging nor any thing that is needfull If a bone be broken how sollicitous are you to have it set if a wound given how carefull to have it cured If a disease be growing on how industrious are you to prevent or remove it and will you be so carefull for their bodies and do nothing for their souls will you have no regard how blind how lame how diseased how naked and void of all good their souls are Secondly Their future estate is more to be regarded then their present this is but for a moment that to eternity the miseries which they are subject to here are but such as are common to man through measure tollerable those which in sâ—me your neglect they may be subject to hereafter will be intollerable The greatest happiness that you can procure for them here is but transitory and it is mixt with much sorrow that whereof you deprive them by want of instruction is permanent a full and perfect happiness without any mixture of evil in it It is an argument of the greatest love to provide best for their better part When Solomon would tell us how his Father instructed him he tells us also what the reason was that he was so carefull of him I was my Fathers son Prov. 4.3 and the only beloved in the sight of my mother true love makes Parents instruct their children in true Piety the more they instruct them the better they love them It s a foolish cockering love that makes us loth to trouble their heads with the knowledg and practice of their duty thus David loved Adonijah to his own and his Sons cost David had more sons by Bathsheba but we read not that he took that pains to teach them as he did Solomon this was his Darling and the better he loved him the more carefull he was to teach him in Gods ways But thirdly if men be so carefull to provide for their childrens welfare in this world now much more carefull should they be to provide for their eternal condition you take much pains that they may live like men when you are dead and will you take no care nor pains that they may like like Saints when they are dead You would have them live like men here will you be content that they should live like Devils hereafter You provide for them riches which the rust and moth doth corrupt and will you not provide for them more durable riches Aristippus was wont to advise Parents that since our passage thorough this world was like a voyage by Sea they should provide something for their children that they might carry to the shore with them in case they suffered shipwracks Cic. Paradox 6. calc by which he meant knowledge and vertue all other things may be lost in wrack but this cannot be lost these will stick by us when all other things forsake us When Demetrius besieged and sacked Megara he asked Stilpon whether he had lost any thing No saith he thy soldiers cannot plunder me of my vertue and for other things I count the parting with them no loss when Socrates was asked his opinion what he thought of such a mighty Prince whether he were not the happiest man living I do not know saith he what stock of wisdome or vertue he hath He that best instructs and brings up his children in their youth makes the best provision for them against their age Hence the Poet calls the institution of youth Miserisque viatica canis the best provision for gray hairs Pers 5. Satyr v. 65. You must not neglect those fair advantages which God puts into your hand for their outward estate but your chief and greatest care should be for their souls good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epict. Enchirid. c. 63.
To what end and purpose they are serviceable and much more Of what many who profess Christianity can give but a slender account Philip of Macedon Quintus Curtius Supplem 1. cap. having found the benefit of good education himself was careful to provide the best tutors for Alexander his son especially Aristotle by whose care and industry he was so well improved that it grew into question whether Alexander owed more to Philip who begat him or to Aristotle who taught him The Persians were exceeding exact in teaching their children betimes Xenoph. de inst Cyr. in princip they labored to prepossess their minds with good things before they were poisoned with evil as being rather desirous to see them do what was good then to punish them for doing amiss Nay the very Turks themselves are exceeding careful of training up their youth Grand Signor Seraglio pub by Mr. J. Greaves p. 70 71. those especially that are to be for the more immediate service of the grand Seigneur The course that is taken with them so soon as they come into the Seraglio is admirable and nothing resembling the barbarism of Turks but beseeming men of singular vertue and discipline for they are exceeding well tutored and daily taught as well good fashion and comely behavior as they are instructed in the rites and ceremonies of the Mahometan Law and whatsoever else may tend to the enriching of their minds What will such Christians be able to answer for themselves at the day of Judgement for their neglect of this duty wherein they see themselves out-done by the purblind Heathen I come now to the second Branch of the Exhortation which is to children and servants to submit themselves to discipline and to be willing to learn that which conduceth to their souls health And that they may more cheerfully yeeld up themselves to publick and private instruction I beseech them by the mercies of God to consider Sect. 1. Your eternal salvation depends upon your knowledge of and faith in Christ what ways God hath for those who dye in their infancy we shall not be curious to inquire much less confident to determine But for such as are come to the use of reason and to years of discretion he saves none but such as can and do act faith in Christ Hos 4.6 How can you believe on him whom you do not know Want of knowledge is destructive to yong as well as to old If you reject knowledge he will also reject you Either you have Parents that put you forward or they do not if they do you are bound to obey your Parents in the Lord for this is good and right Eph. 6.1 Disobedience to Parents in things which they command agreeable to the mind of God is direct disobedience to God himself If they be backward in their duty be not you backward in yours Your souls are your own and you must give an account to God for them God will require your bloud if you dye for want of instruction at your Parents hands but you shall perish in your sins Hell torments will not be a jot the easier to you because you come into them through your Parents fault If they be careless of your eternal welfare you had need to double your diligence to make your calling and election sure You are put to your shifts to provide for your selves in your greatest concernment you must take the more pains Are you so inconsiderable that your souls are not worth the saving why of such is the kingdome of God Sect 2. You were engaged hereunto by Baptisme your Baptismal Covenant engages you to learn all things belonging to your souls health You were baptized into the name of the Father the Son and the holy Ghost and will you always be ignorant who and what that Father Son and holy Ghost are And what each of them doth toward the promoting of your eternal welfare Will you grow old in the ignorance of that ordinance which you received so yong and render it fruitless You then renounced the world the flesh and the devil Repete quid interrogatus sis recognosce quid responderis tenetur vox tua in libro viventium presentibus Angelis locutus es Amb. de initiand c. 2. and were dedicated unto Christ What will you live and dye in the ignorance of him into whose warfare you have engaged your selves Remember what was askt you remember what you promised what stipulation and covenant was made that day between God and your souls Your words were spoken in the presence of Angels and they are recorded in Heaven If the children of Israel would be asking their Parents what was the meaning of Circumcision and the Paschal Lamb those Sacraments under the Law is it commendable for you to spend all your days and never inquire what is the end use nature of Baptisme and the Lords Supper the Sacraments under the Gospel I beseech you consider the vows of God are upon you Sect. 3. You have no assurance of your lives but may be quickly taken away and have no long time to learn What will become of you if you are called to an account before you have learned what to plead for your Justification I have heard of a young man who being desirous to be instructed in Moral Philosophy which is the Doctrine of living well was disswaded from it he was told he was too young in the flower and prime of his youth to which such harsh rules were no way suitable he might apply himself to that hereafter O! but saith he what if I dye before I be elder what will become of me then Think seriously on this the Charnel house hath as many little Skuls as great ones in it there are as many young as old carried out to burying We often see as the Proverb is the old Camel carry the young Camels skin to market Parents doing that office for their Children which in the course of Nature might be expected from the Children to their Parents If you were sure of long life yet it were no wisdom to put off this work to old age you will be then harder to learn your avocations more your hindrances greater Besides you must not put off sowing your seed until it be time to reap Since your time is uncertain work while it is to day neglect not your season Sect. 4. You have much to do in a little time Ars longa vita brevis our life is but short but our lesson is long and difficult A Christians task is never at an end so long as he lives he will have something to learn or to learn better There be many things necessary to make the man of God perfect throughly furnished unto every good work The sum of Christian Religion though it may be drawn into a short Catechism yet 't is of large extent Every Article requires an age to know it throughly As there are many things to be known so many of them are
very difficult 1 Tim. 3.16 the whole knowledge of the Gospel is a mystery a great mystery yea beyond all controversie it is a great mystery 2 Pet. 3.16 There be many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things hard to be understood And alas our apprehensions are but dull at spiritual heavenly things You are like vessels that have but little mouthes which receive whatsoever is put into them dropmeal Such vessels will be long in filling there must be the greater diligence and continuance at the work Sect. 5. You ought not to be admitted to the Lords Supper until you have attained a competent measure of knowledge when you are grown up you will take it ill to be kept back from that spiritual banquet but to admit you without knowledge is but to admit you to your own destruction to invite you to poison instead of meat to admit you to eat and drink your own damnation 1 Cor. 11.29 But of this again hereafter Nemo ex juvenibus ad Coenae communionem admittitur nisi prius examinetur an Mysterium hoc sacrum probè intelligat Judic Theol. Helvet Syn. Dodr. S. 15. Sect. 6. You are free from some of those unjust prejudices which keep others from this necessary work It 's usual with some of riper years when they are called upon to be instructed to break out What do you make us children still we are too old to be catechised What an irrational retortion and answer this is we shall consider in its proper place but you with whom we have now to do have no pretence to this plea. You are young and none of us brought knowledge into the world with him but we must get it It is not so much a shame to be ignorant as to continue so when we have means and opportunities to learn It cannot be expected that any should know the things of God till they be taught and youth is the fittest time to learn You take it no disparagement to learn a Trade or Mystery when you are young why should you think it any to learn the great Mystery of Godliness Sect. 7. You are subject to stronger affections passions lusts in your youth and therefore should more carefully lay in provisions against them It 's a great matter to abstain from the sin of youth Magnum est à vitiis juventutis abstinere Amb. in obitu Valentin to 5. p. 107. Grave est juveni cujus aetas est florulentior Id. and to renounce the vanity and folly of it in our very entrance into the world There is a great emphasis in the word Wherewithal shall a Young man cleanse his way Psal 119.9 A Young-man who is in the heat of blood fulness of strength height of affections and many times under the greatest lusts It 's a hard taske for such a one to submit his ear to discipline and to conquer these corruptions he had need to be more careful to fetch in strength Fretum adolescentiae Florus l. 1. c. 26. and to arm himself against it The Historian calls Youth fretum a troubled and tempestuous Sea when as a riper age is but Otium maris a quiet and calm Bay a safer Harbor in a quiet Sea it is no such hard matter to steer and govern the ship aright Cum sit aetas lubrica fraenari ac regi debet Lact. but in a tempestuous and working Sea it requires more care and diligence Youth is a slippery and unsteady age and had need of much caution and circumspection to restrain and guide and fix it Upon this consideration St. Ambrose thus read that place Lubricae ac perplexae sunt viae juventutis non solum fragilitate lubricae aetatis prolabitur sedet ignorantiâ mandatorum Amb. ibid. Prov. 30.18 There be three things which be too wonderfull yea four which I know not the way of an Eagle in the air of a Serpent upon a rock the way of a Ship in the midst of the sea and the ways of a Man in his Youth Therefore David was fervent in this prayer Remember not the sins of my Youth Ps 25.7 What through the giddiness and headiness of that age and what through that ignorance which most commonly attends it it is exceedingly apt to run into error What is the best means for a young man to cleanse and direct his ways why by taking heed unto thy word In the strength of this it was that Joseph repulsed the down-right temptations of his lewd Mistris How shall I do this wickedness and sin against God Gen. 39.9 It is this that gives the young man knowledge and discretion Prov. 1.4 Sect. 8. Knowledge when you have attained to it puts an extraordinary lustre and honor upon you and of all knowledge this divine and saving knowledge most All other knowledge is but blindness and ignorance in comparison of knowing Jesus Christ and him crucified Other knowledge puffs up but the knowledge of the things of God edifieth In those places before mentioned where God commanded them to teach their children his statutes and his ways he tells them that this shall be as front lets and bracelets it shall be their greatest ornament This made David wiser then his Teachers Psal 119.98 99 100. then his Enemies then his Antients because Gods Testimonies were his continual study and meditation What a sweet savor did Josiah leave behind him who at eight years old knew the Lord and walked in the ways of David his Father 2 Kings 22 23 chap. entred into covenant with God reformed Religion destroyed Idolatry and turned not aside either to the right hand or to the left 2 Tim. 3.14 What an honor it was to Timothy that he was instructed in the Scriptures from a very child 1 Kin. 18.12 Am 1. ubi supra To Obadiah That he seared the Lord from his youth to Valentinian the Emperor that he was so good at such an age How precious are the memories of Edward the Sixt Vid. their lives and the young Lord Harrington upon this account as wickedness in grey hairs is double iniquity so piety in young men is double gilt its like apples of gold in pictures of silver Sect. 9. Lastly You are growing up toward the having of children and families your selves how will you be able to teach them their duties then if you be ignorant of your own now And here let me add to all that hath been said before that it is a sad thing to see young people thrusting themselves into the world and taking upon them the government of Children and Families who never yet had any acquaintance with God nor know any thing of the Principles of Religion who are usually very sollicitous what Portion they shall have what Joynture they shall have but never enquire what abilities they have to discharge the Duties of those Family-relations which they are engaging to these things never come into their thoughts It was said of Herod that it was better being his