of their Tempers, in exciting them to Good, and preferving them from Evil, as much as they can: And Parents ought first abfolutely to require this of them, and then examine diligently from Time to Time whether it be done. But especially Mafters and Miftreffes of Charity-schools, which are founded purpofely to give the Children of the Poor an early and deep Tincture of Religion and Virtue, fhould look upon it as by far their principal Bufinefs to teach them, not merely outward Obfervances and Forms of good Words, but fuch an inward Senfe and Love of their Duty to God and Man, as may fecure them, if poffible, from that lamentable Depravity, into which the lower Part of the World is falling; and which it is highly the Intereft of their Superiors, if they would but understand their Interest, to restrain and correct.

As the Care of Children belongs to their Parents and Teachers; fo doth that of Servants to the Heads of the Families, in which they live. And therefore it is mentioned in Scripture by God himself, as a distinguishing Part of the Character of a good Man, that he will command his Houfhold to keep the Way of the Lord, to do Justice and Judgment. For indeed it is a ftrong and a requifite Proof of Reverence to our Maker, as well as of Kindnefs to them, and Concern for our own Intereft, to direct them in the Way of their Duty, or procure them the Direction of good Books and good Advice; to exhort them to the more private Exercifes of Religion; to contrive Leifure for them to attend the appointed folemn ones, which is plainly one Part of giving them, as the Apostle requires, what is just and equal; and to fee that the Leifure, allowed them for that Purpofe, be honeftly fo employed, and not abufed.

For, after all, the most valuable Inftruction for Servants, for Children, for all Perfons, is the public one of the Church, which our Saviour himself hath promised to blefs with his Prefence f. And therefore it is a Rule

• Gen. wwiii. 19.

e Col. iv. I.

fMatth. xviii. 20.

of inexpreffible Moment: Gather the People together; Men, Women, and Children, and thy Stranger that is within thy Gates: that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God; and obferve to do all the Words of bis Law: and that their Children, which have not known any Thing, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as ye live 8.

Whoever else may fail of doing their Duty, we the Minifters of Chrift must not fail to be inftant in Seafon, and cut of Seafon h; to feed the Young with the fincere Milk of the Word, and preach the Gospel to the Poor *. It is the peculiar Glory of Chriftianity, to have extended religious Inftruction, of which but few partook at all before, and fcarce any in Purity, through all Ranks and Ages of Men, and even Women. The firft Converts to it were immediately formed into regular Societies and Affemblies; not only for the joint Worship of God, but the further edifying of the Body of Chrift1: in which good Work, fome of courfe were ftated Teachers, or, to use the Apoftle's own Expreffion, Catechizers in the Word; others, taught or catechized ". For catechizing fignifies in Scripture, at large, inftructing Perfons in any Matter, but especially in Religion. And thus it is used, Acts xviii. 25. where you read, This Man was inftructed in the Way of the Lord; and Luke i. 4. where again you read, That thou mayest know the Certainty of thofe Things, wherein thou hast been inftructed. The original Word, in both Places, is catechized.

But as the different Advances of Perfons in Knowledge made different Sorts of Inftructions requifite; so in the primitive Church, different Sorts of Teachers were appointed to dispense it. And they who taught fo much only of the Chriftian Doctrine, as might qualify the Hearers for Christian Communion, had the Name of Catechifts appropriated to them: whofe Teaching being ufually, as was moft convenient, in a great Meafure by Way of Question and Anfwer; the Name of

Catechism hath now been long confined to fuch Inftruction, as is given in that Form. But the Method of employing a particular fet of Men in that Work only, is in moft Places laid afide. And I hope you will not be Lofers, if they, who are appointed to the higher Miniftries of the Church, attend to this alfo.

Under the Darkness of Popery almost all religious Inftruction was neglected. Very few, to ufe the Words of one of our Homilies, even of the most fimple People, were taught the Lord's Prayer, the Articles of the Faith, or the ten Commandments, otherwife than in Latin, which they understood not"; fo that one of the first neceffary Steps taken towards the Reformation, in this Country, was a general Injunction, that Parents and Masters should first learn them in their own Tongue, then acquaint their Children and Servants with them: which three main. Branches of Chriftian Duty, comprehending the Sum of what we are to believe, to do, and to petition for, were foon after formed, with proper Explanations of each, into a Catechism. To this was added, in Process of Time, a brief Account of the two Sacraments; all together making up that very good, though ftill improveable, Form of found Words, which we now use.

And that it may be ufed effectually, the Laws of the Land, both ecclefiaftical and civil, require not only Minifters to instruct their Parishioners in it, but Parents, and Mafters and Miftreffes of Families, to fend their Children and Servants to be inftructed; meaning evidently, unless they made fome other more convenient Provision to answer the fame End. For promoting religious Knowledge and Practice is not only the exprefs Defign of all Church Government, but a Matter (would God it were well confidered) of great Importance to the State alfo: fince neither private Life can be happy, nor the public Welfare fecure for any long Time, without that Belief of the Doctrines and Observance of the

n Homily against Rebellion, Part 6.

• See Wake's Dedication of his Commentary on the Church Catechism. P 2 Tim. i. 13.

A 4

Duties

Duties of Chriftianity, for which catechizing the young and ignorant lays the firmeft Foundation.

It must be owned, the Catechifm of our Church is, as it ought to be, fo clear in the main, as to need but little explaining, all Things confidered. But then it is alfo, as it ought to be, fo fhort, as to leave much Room for fetting forth the Particulars comprehended under its general Heads; for confirming both thefe by Reason and Scripture; and for imprinting the whole on the Confciences and Affections of the Learners. This therefore I fhall endeavour to do, in the Sequel of these Difcourfes, as clearly and familiarly as I am able.

In the Nature of the Thing, nothing new or curious ought to have any Place in fuch an Expofition, as indeed fuch Matters ought to have little Place in any public Teaching of God's Word: but leaft of all, where only the plain fundamental Truths of our common Faith are to be taught, confirmed, and recommended in a plain Way. And yet, as thefe Truths are of all others the most neceffary; the plaineft Things, that can be faid about them, may deferve the Attention of all Sorts of Perfons; especially as it is but too poffible, that fome of all Sorts may never have been taught fufficiently even the first Principles of Religion, and that many may by no Means have fufficiently retained, and confidered fince, what they learnt in their early Years; but preferving fcarce more in their Minds than the bare Words, if fo much, may be little the better, if at all, for the Leffons of their Childhood. To which it might be added, that every one hath need, in a greater Degree or a lefs, if not to be informed, yet to be reminded and excited.

Let me beg therefore, that all who have Caufe to hope they may receive Benefit, would attend when they are able and that all who have Children or Servants would bring or fend them. This is not a Day of Bufinefs. It ought not to be a Day of idle Amusements. It is appointed for the public Worship of God, and learning of his Will. This is one of the Hours of his

Worship:

Worship: it is that Part of the Day in which you are most of you more at Liberty, than you are in any other. And what will you fay for yourfelves hereafter, if when you have the most intire Leifure, you chufe rather to do any thing or nothing, than to ferve your Maker, and improve in the Knowledge of your Duty? Never was there more Danger of being infected with Evil of every Sort from Conversation in the World. Surely then you fhould endeavour to fortify yourselves, and those who belong to you, with proper Antidotes against it. And where will you find better, than in the House of God! But particularly I both charge and beg you, Children, to mark diligently what I fhall fay to you: for all that you learn by Rote will be of no Üfe, unless you learn alfo to understand it. The Expofition, which you are taught along with your Catechifm, will help your Understanding very much, if you mind it as you ought and what you will hear from me may be a yet further Help. For if there fhould be fome Things in it above your Capacities, yet I fhall endeavour to the beft of my Power, that moft Things may be eafy and plain to you. And, I entreat you, take Care that they be not loft upon you. You are foon going out into the World, where you will hear and fee Abundance of what is evil. For Chrift's Sake lay in as much Good, in the mean while, as you can, to guard you against it.

But indeed it behoves us all, of whatever Age or Station we be, to remember, that the Belief and Practice of true Religion are what we are every one equally concerned in. For without them, the greatest Perfon upon Earth will, in a very few Years, be completely miferable and with them, the meaneft will be eternally happy. O hear ye this, all ye People; ponder it, all ye that dwell in the World; high and low, rich and poor, one with another. Apply your Hearts to Inftruction, and your Ears to the Words of Knowledge". For whofo findeth Wisdom, findeth Life; and fhall obtain Favour of the Lord. But he that finneth against her, wrongeth his own Soul: all they, that hate her, love Deaths.