Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	great_a	young_a	youthful_a	17	3	11.4894	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29255	A circular letter to the clergy of Mary-land subsequent to the late visitation.	Bray, Thomas, 1658-1730.	1700 (1700)	Wing B4291; ESTC R26553	7,779	8

of the Jews should by that time be able to give some Account or Reason of the Faith that is in them And it is of the greatest use to fix designs to certain Periods which will cause such expectations that generally speaking things will answer within those termes And as you have Resolved with respect to this rank of Catech 〈…〉 to have them learn by Heart Some Exposition with Scripture Proofs so I have accordingly sent you a sufficient number of that Kind This Book is divided into four parts and subdivided into Fifty Two Lessons one for every Sunday in the Year in which are explained the peculiar Terms in Divinity and in which are given the Elements of Christian Knowledge both in the general Doctrine and particular Articles of the Covenant of Grace And it is in this manner I think that your Catechism ought to be Expounded to Young Children For first as to the terms in Divinity Theology as well as all other Sciences has some peculiar Expressions which till understood render any Discourse on Subjects of that Nature utterly unintelligible to either Hearers or Readers And therefore the peculiar acceptations of such words so often occurring in our Discourses of Religion must be first explain'd to the Youth as we would have them be ever Edify'd from the Desk or from the Pulpit And such Expositions ought also to be so contrived as to give the Catech 〈…〉 a view of the Nature Terms and Conditions of his Covenant with God For Christianity is no other than such a Covenant And the whole Texture of our Church Catechism is according to the Analytical and best Method both a general and particular Instruction in that matter The Third Class of Catechumens you would have to consist of Youth grown up to some Years And these you are for treating with in a manner something more Manly than the very Children of Thirteen You would not oblige them to get an Exposition by Heart but would recommend to them some proper Book to Read but yet to Read so attentively and with such Application of Mind as to be so much Masters of its Sense as in Conference and Discourse with you upon those Subjects to be able to give you Reason to conclude they understood what they have Read And indeed hereby you will both lead them to exercise their own Judgments a thing or singular use to them and will also treat them in such a manner tho' it be in effect still but Catechizing as none will think themselves above And it is moreover very judiciously Resolved by you to advise them more particularly to Read such a Book or Books as shall more fully instruct them in the Nature Terms and Conditions of the Covenant of Grace To understand and comprehend which throughly is to know the whole Tenor of Christianity and which except it be conceived under such a Scheme cannot in my Opinion be so rightly and clearly apprehended Besides these your Catechetical Conferences with them are primarily design'd to prepare them with proper Knowledge that if Adult and not yet Baptized of which there are so many in the Plantations they may be listed to God in Baptism or if they have been already Baptized that they may ratify their Baptismal Covenant with God in the Lord's Supper And therefore some more enlarged Discourse upon the Nature Terms and Conditions of their Covenant with God such as shall farther explain what through shortness might be left obscure in the former must I humbly conceive be the most proper Book which at first you can recommend to them And then other Discourses on Faith or a good Life such as you will find in the Layman's Library when that former is fully imbib'd may be with greater advantage propos'd afterwards Well I think it my Duty to furnish here also such of your Disciples at least as cannot provide themselves and therefore give you Commission to take of Mr. Jones at Annopolis as many of the Short Discourses upon the Baptismal Covenant as you shall want for the poorer Youth both Children and Servants And because that Youth when once they advance towards the State of Manhood will soon out grow your Tuition begin with them first And I beseech you with all expedition to form out of such amongst them as are grown up to years of Discretion a Class or Society of Catechumens whom I would have you to Instruct and Direct according to the Methods which you will find I have laid down at large in the Preface to my Discourse on the Baptismal Covenant to which I refer you I call these your Young Disciples indifferently a Religious Society or a Class of Catechumens But since too many have such ridiculous Prejudices and it is indeed an amazing thing to consider how far some pitiful Prejudices do in many Cases pervert the Minds of many wise and good Men from approving or pursuing the best Designs I say since many are prejudiced against the word Societies call them if you please Catechumens being the antient Term of the Church of Christ for these your Disciples and I defy any then to except against them for I am sure no good Man can gain-say or oppose the Thing For FIRST It is most indispensibly your Duty to call Young People together and to give them proper and suitable Instructions their Youthful Years being the very Critical time of engaging them firmly to God for if left to themselves at that Age it is very great odds but their natural Propensity to Evil which is then in the Highth and the Allurements of bad Company which are then most busy will Enter them and bind them close in the Service of the Devil the World and the Flesh And let any of you as you are the Ministers of Christ and will answer it at the dreadful Tribunal take heed how you let them alone then to themselves to be the Slaves of Satan SECONDLY It is highly expedient that you should for their better Conduct put them under some prudential Rules And I do recommend to you for that purpose those which you will find in the Short View of the Religious Societies in and about London herewith sent you wherein you will see that those here in England have form'd to themselves such Rules as deserve our highest Approbation And with some little Alterations agreeable to the Circumstances of your parts you may regulate the matter with reference to the Catechetical Societies for such the Religious Societies ought all to be with you in the Plantations THIRDLY I do assert That every Parochial Minister ought to be present with them at their Meetings to Instruct and to direct them what they are to Read to examine them in order to know their Improvements to take care they do not warp towards Error or Schism and to prevent Seducers from coming amongst them The danger of the two latter I know is all that those who are the most prejudic'd have to suggest against them But whose fault is it if