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Fifthly, Catechizing is neceffary to preferve Men from Errors, Herefies and Divifions in Matters of Religion: These are thofe Tares that are too apt to fpring up in the Field of the Church, and to choke the good Seed of found Doctrine planted in it; which are therefore to be weeded out, and prevented by this timely method of Inftruction. We read in Scripture of falfe Teachers, that fhould come in Chrift's Name, and deceive many; and likewise of the cunning Craftiness of Seducers, who would come with all deceivableness of Unrighteousness, 2 Theff. 2. 10. Now there is no fuch Antidote against the Poifon of their falfe Doctrines, as to be inftructed and fettled betimes in the Principles of Religion; for they are the ignorant and uncatechiz'd Perfons that are drawn afide by these Seducers, and like Children toffed to and fro with every Wind of Doctrine. Early Inftruction is the best Ballaft to preserve Men from thefe Blafts, and to keep them found and steddy in the true Religion; and therefore the Apostle directs, not only to learn, but to hold fast the Form of found Words: which tho it may be understood at large of the whole Body of the Scriptures, yet because the great and weighty Truths of Religion lie there fcatter'd and diffus'd up and down, and are not easily discern'd or distinguish'd by ordinary Capacities, therefore this Form of found Words is generally interpreted of the Apostles Creed; which being a brief Summary of all the neceffary Articles of Faith, is thereby made the Teft or Touchstone of found Doctrine : by learning and understanding whereof, Men may be able to try and difcern between true and falfe Doctrine, and thereby defeat the Defigns of falfe Teachers, by receiving the one, and rejecting the other.

Laftly, Catechizing is neceffary to preferve Men from Temptations to Sin, and falling into a vicious and ungodly Courfe of Life. As there are falfe Teachers that endeavour to corrupt the Doctrine of Chrift, and to draw Men into Errors and Divifions to destroy the Unity of his Church; fo there are other evil Inftruments, that feek to corrupt mens Manners, and to draw them into a loose, intemperate and debauch'd Life. Now as Catechizing is known to be the best Prefervative against the former, fo is the well-grounding of Youth in the Principles of Religion the best Means to prevent the latter: For when the Mind is, by early and pious Inftruction, poffeffed of good Principles, 'tis in a great measure armed against the Force of Temptation;

Virtue will then keep the Poffeffion, and Vice muft come with great ftrength to affault or overcome it. Whereas an uninftructed Perfon lies open and defenfelefs, ready to yield upon the firft Motion, and to furrender upon every Temptation.

Thus we see what Catechizing is, namely, a general Inftruction in the fundamental Principles of the Chriftian Religion, by way of Question and Answer: And likewife how neceffary it is to all the Ends of Religion. To effect which, a Catechifm must have these three Properties it must be fhort, plain, and comprehenfive.

I. I fay, a Catechifm must be fhort, that it may be the better learn'd, and the more eafily committed to memory; for this way of inftructing being intended for Children, it muft be as brief and concife as poffible, left Length and Tedioufnefs fhould difcourage them from learning, and render it too difficult to be retained: and therefore a Catechifm ought not to be crouded with any unneceffary matters of Controverfy; but to confift only of the fundamental Points of Faith, and Principles of a holy Life.

II. A Catechifm must be plain and familiar, that it may be the better fuited to the Capacities of the Learners, and the more eafily understood by them; and therefore it must not confift of any nice and abftrufe Speculations, that are more apt to puzzle and diftract, than inform the Mind.

III. A Catechifm must be full and comprehenfive, containing the Whole of a Chriftian's Duty, and all Matters neceffary to Salvation; it must comprize all that is to be believ'd, practis'd, and pray'd for, that the Learner may be perfect in all found Knowledge, and thorowly instructed to every good Work.

These were the Qualifications of the antient Catechisms, which were fuch Forms of Doctrine or found Words, as might be eafily learn'd and retain'd by all, containing nothing but what was purely fundamental to a good Life here, and all that was neceffary to eternal Happiness hereafter. Such as this is the Catechifm of our Church, which I am about to explain to you; in which the three forecited Properties may be clearly feen. For,

ift. 'Tis a brief and concife Model of Inftruction, and fo not apt to clog or burden the Memory of the Learner. 2dly. 'Tis plain and familiar, fitted to the weakest Capacities, and fo may eafily be receiv'd and remember'd by all, even the meanest Understandings.

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3dly.

3dly. "Tis full and comprehenfive, containing all the neceffary Duties of a Chriftian, as well as all the fundamental Doctrines of Chriftianity; fo that as there is nothing redundant in it that may be fpar'd, fo there is nothing defective that need be fupply'd: And confequently, for its Excellency and Ufe, far exceeds all the Catechifms, not only of the Roman Church, but likewife those of our modern Reformers; both which are not only burdenfeme and difficult for their Length, but by crouding into them many obfcure and unneceffary Tenets, are redundant for. their Matter.

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In fhort then, this may ferve to recommend this excellent Summary or Abridgment of the Chriftian Religion, to be taught and learn'd of all that would go on to Perfection. For as in all Arts and Sciences we must begin with Principles, before we can attain to a higher Perfection fo in learning the Chriftian Religion, we must begin first with the Principles of the Doctrine of Chrift, if we mean to arrive to any higher Degrees of Knowledge of it. This was the Method the Apoftles us'd in teaching, and the Difciples took in learning the Mysteries of the Gofpel: And all that would be knowing and ftable Chriftians, muft go on by the fame Steps.

'Tis indeed, a great piece of the Care, Wifdom and Piety of our Church, to provide fuch a useful and compendious Model of Instruction, which it requires to be taught and learn'd of all its Members: there are none, of what Age, Parts, or Quality foever, but ftand in need of, and may receive benefit by thefe Inftructions; the greatest Persons may not be afham'd, nor the meaneft afraid, to learn them: but as they are useful and neceffary for all, fo they ought not to be defpis'd or neglected by any.

Wherefore, let all who have the Care or Overfight of any others, fee that the Perfons committed to their Charge be well catechiz'd and inftructed in the Principles of Religion; and to that end, let them (as they are commanded) keep to that Catechifm, or excellent Method of Inftruction, which the Church hath wifely chalk'd out for them, that all its Members may be bred up in the Belief and Practice. of the fame Doctrine, and not be distracted with various Notions, nor divided into fundry and different Sects and Opinions, to the great disturbance of the Peace of the Church, and the greater peril of their own Souls,

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APRACTICAL EXPOSITION of the First Part of the ChurchCatechifm.

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DISCOURSE I.

PROV. xxii. 6.

Train up a Child in the Way he fhould go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

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YAVING premis'd fome things in the foregoing Introduction, touching the Nature and Neceffity of Catechizing in general, and likewife of the Excellency of our Church-Catechifm in particular; I proceed to add fome thing farther concerning the Benefit and Ufefulness of Catechizing, the better to quicken and excite to fo important and neceffary a Duty. This I fhall do from the Words read, Train up a Child, &c.

They are the Words of Solomon, who being in all Ages reputed the wifeft of Men, his Advice muft carry great Weight with it; and being the Refult of great Wifdom and large Experience, may very well deserve to be heeded, and receiv'd by all Men. And here we learn,

I. That there is a Way wherein all Men fhould go.

II. That

II. That Children are to be train'd up betimes in this Way.

III. We have an Encouragement annex'd to fo doing, viz. When they are old they will not depart from it.

I. The wife Man here plainly fuppofes, that there is a Way, wherein all Men ought to go: and this is double; the One is, The Way of a particular Calling, Trade, or Courfe of Life, wherein they are to employ themselves for their bodily Suftenance. The

Other is, The Way of a general Calling, Profeffion, or Courfe of Religion, wherein they are to act for the Comfort and Salvation of their Souls: The one appertains to them as Men, the other as Chriftians; in both which, all Men are to be engag'd, for their present and eternal Welfare.

First, I fay, there is a Way of a particular Calling, Trade, or Courfe of Life, wherein all Men are requir'd to walk; and this is to be done, to provide partly for their own private Wants and Neceffities, partly for the Neceffities of the Publick, and partly likewife to prevent the many Evils and Dangers of Idleness.

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Every Man's private Wants and Neceffities call upon him to walk in the way of fome Calling for the fupply of them for God Almighty deals out his Bleffings only to fuch as labour and feek for them: 'Tis the diligent Hand (faith Solomon) that maketh rich, whilft the lazy Perfon and the Sluggard fink into Want and Beggary. "Twas ordain'd from the beginning, Gen. 3. 19. That in the Sweat of their Brows all Men fhould eat their Bread. And therefore the Apoftle, 2 Theff. 3. 10, 11, 12. order'd, that fuch as would not work should not eat; yea, he reckons thofe in the number of disorderly Walkers that work not at all: and those that are fuch, he exhorts, that with Quietness they work, and eat their own Bread. As if it were not their own Bread, unless it were got by their own Labour. A Calling then is neceffary for every one to be engag'd in, in which they are commanded to work with their Hands, that they may have lack of nothing, 1 Theff. 4. 11, 12. 2 Theff. 3.

11, 12.

Again, Not only Mens private Neceffities, but likewife thofe of the Publick, require them to walk in the way of fome particular Trade or Calling. A Heathen could tell us, That we are not born for ourselves only, but our Friends

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