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
after his long preaching and many miracles amongst them in Mat. 13.51 Having preached to them many parables he asketh them if they understand and Mat. 16.13 14. Whom say men whom say ye that I am Fifth and last reason why Ministers must Catechize in their Congregations is that they may detect all lurking deceivers that lie in wait to seduce the people committed to their charge from the truth and discern when any of them begin to be tainted with error and false doctrine whereby they are directed how to improve themselves as skilful workmen in the Lords house dividing the Word aright defending the truth and soul with which he is charged stopping the mouth of all gainsayers which is the great reason of that general Apostolical charge of holding fast the form of sound words in 2 Tim. 1.13 and commendation of obeying the form of Doctrine in Rom. 6.17 which the learned conclude to be Catechism Having thus given you the Reasons why Catechizing is the duty of Ministers I shall passe from this with this hearty desire that God would put into the hearts of all his Ministers to perform their duty herein in these backsliding daies wherein the principles of Religion are so generally unknown and declined and so I come to consider the second sort of Catechists which are Schoolmasters in their Schools whose diligence in the discharge hereof should write really what is worthily written on the wals of that famous School of this City at Paules Schola Catechisationis puerorum in optima maxima fide Christi and for these following reasons 1. That the main and chief end of erecting Schools was alwaies instruction in and preparation to divine worship for even among the Pagans they did appoint Schools to the end that the Oracles of their gods might be read to the youth and they Philosophically prepared to pursue the summum bonum of the soul and among the Papists to instruct and train up in traditions of the Fathers and Câ—nons of the Church concerning the corrupt worship of God whom it were an exceeding sin and shame for Christian Schoolemasters in the reformed Churches to come short of by not instructing in the true worship of the true God 2. As this was the end of Schools in general so we shall see that in Church of God among the Jewes and also among the Christians Schools were constituted and conserved by the special providence of God for the instruction of youth in she Doctrine of his worship as well as other learning The eight and forty cities of the Levites were dispersed abroad through all the tribes of the children of Israel that they might be as Schools wherein the youth might drink in the Doctrine of the Law and the Prophets together with the knowledge of the liberal Arts such as these were the Schools of the Prophets in Shiloh Ramoth gilead Jericho Bethel and Mount Carmell and the Scholars thereof were called the sons of the Prophets 1 Sam. 9.10 5. 2 King 2.3 4.25 6.2 And it is worthy observation that Samuel was Master of the School of the Prophets at Naioth near Ramah at such time as David fled from the presence of Saul 1 Sam. 19.20 And such a School as this Gamaliel kept of whom Paul declares himself to have been taught like a childe the knowledge of the Law as well as other learning Act. 22.3 and as these Schools were among the Jewes so we shall finde them in the Christian Churches Eusebius reporteth out of Philo Judeus that there was at Alexandria in Aegypt an ancient School founded by Ptolemeus famous throughout the world when Mark the Evangelist preached the Gospel there he turned the same into a Christian School the which did afterward so continue and in it Origen was Schoolmaster and when by reason of the multitude of the Scholars that resorted to it 〈◊〉 found himself not able to perform the duty he chose Heraclas a man expert in holy Scripture and studious of divine things very eloquent and not ignorant of Philosophy to be his Usher fellow-helper dividing the company did appoint him to initiate and enter them in the faith and he himself did teach them that were riper not only in Philosophy Geometry and other liberal Arts but in divine things also So Pamphilus a Christian Philosopher did ordain at Cesarea a famous School both for divine and humane learning and Nazianzen doubted not to call the School at Athens a golden parent of all speech and learning To this reason we might add an evidence of God's constituting of Schools as fountains of Christian Religion from Satans enmity against the same expressed by the cruel martyrdome of famous Cassianus of Forum in Italy by his Scholars at the cruel command of the Emperor and the putting down of such Schools by Julian the Apostate in his devillish design of rooting out all Christian Doctrine Thirdly Schoolmasters ought to Catechize because it is impossible for youth to go well forward in vertue and good manners the end of all learning unlesse they be well instructed in the principles of Religion and Doctrine of Christ for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdome Fourthly Without Catechizing godly parents do misse of the end of all their care and charges in setting their children to school which is to be educated in the fear of the Lord and instructed in the true Religion which neglected a Pagan were as good as a Christian a Papist as good as a Protestant Schoolmaster for them Fifthly In not Catechizing they transgresse the Law of Church and all Christian Common-wealth which requires that a Schoolmaster should subscribe to sound Doctrine because he ought chiefly to teach Religion Lastly Prayers which we suppose to be in Christian Schools unlesse they will come short of Paganish tutors who used to begin their lessons with invocation to their gods cannot but be profaned and used unreverently where Catechizing is neglected because through want of instruction the youth understand not the duty in generall nor petition in particular and so it is unto them as in an unknown tongue Having thus shewed you the Reasons why Ministers and Schoolmasters should Catechize we come now to consider the Reasons why this duty is to be performed by Parents and Masters of families which are briefly these First God commands and commends it in them in Deut. 4.9 6.7 11.19 Thou shalt teach thy children thy sons and thy sons sons in Ephes 6.4 Parents are required to bring up their children in the instruction and information of the Lord besides that command in Prov. 22.6 Train up a childe in his youth and this duty hath been commended in Abraham in Gen. 14.14 18.19 and the effect of it in Timothy Secondly That they may as much as in them lies help forward the regeneration of their children to whom they have conveyed an evill and corrupted nature To this Catechizing is singularly helpful by laying in the soul the Word of God by which
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