Nature and necessity of catechising

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THE

NATURE and NECESSITY

OF

CATECHISING:

BY

A Divine of the Church of England.

WITH

Some Remarks thereon,

AND

Propofals for the more effectual carrying
it into execution ; by another Hand.

■EakW^u-v^A LclnjvJ

CA M B RI DG E,

Printed by J. BE NT HAM, Printer to the Umverfity;
forW. THURLBOURN Bookfeller in Cambridge,
and J. Bee CROFT in Lombard-Street London.

MDGCXLVr.

To the Moft Reverend the

ARCHBISHOPS,

The Right Reverend the

BISHOPS,

AND

The reft of the C L E R G Y

OF THE

CHURCH of ENGLA N D,

The following Papers

Are moft humbly Dedicated, and with all Duty
and Deference fubmitted

By the. Authors,

THE

Nature and NecefTity o{ Catechifing,

IT feems to be one great happinefs of the pre-
fcnt age, that ftrifc about words, and a blind
zeal for opinions vifibly abates, but then it is no
lefs vifible that a true zeal and jufl concern for
the fubftantials of Religion is abating likewife ;
iind if this be not fome way remedied, there is
room to apprehend that we may foon fall as far
fliort of former times in point of practice, as we
exceed them in all parts of fpeculation. In order
therefore to remove the growing levity and luke-
warmnefs in fubjecfls of this kind, at leafl pre-
vent it from infecting the next generation 3 to
rellore that fober fenfe of and resiard for thefe
thiiigs which the importance of them muft re-
quire J it may be proper to look back a little to
the foundations of Rehgion amongft us, and fee
how rationally they are laid, and whether any
improvement may be hoped for in this refpeift.
Now thefe foundations are laid when we com-
mence Chriftians, and this we properly do when
in our own perfons we undertake to perform our
part of the Baptifmal Covenant : till this be done,
we are not in flrictnefs bound to any particular
mode or profeffion of Religion ; I mean, by any
thing that others have defigned or undertaken for
us, (who in truth can only engage for themfelves,
and certify Vv'hat they will inilru6t us in, invite
and exhort us to, and as far as in th?m lies, caufe
z/.f to undertake j and who are accordingly required
to be themfelves above the ftate of Childhood^ and

A to

( 2 )

to have communicated with the Church before
they can be regularly admitted to bring others
into it. Canon 2().) And therefore I have placed
the commencement of Chriftianity not fo much
in any operation performed on us, any dedicatiori
of us, or ftipulation for us in our Infancy, as in
our adlual entrance on the Chriftian life ; wheri
the Religion of Chrijl begins in fome degree io
afFedt our underftanding and determine our
confcience j when it becomes our own choice,
rather than the efl'edt of chance, of the conliitution
or cuflom of the country wherein we were born :
and this, I think, is with the generality in our
Church to be dated from their Confirmation.
What efticacy the adminiffration of Baptijm may
have upon the fouls of thofe who die before they
come to the ufe of reafon : — what authoritv there
is for adminiflring it to fuch, — or what necefiity
for the continuance of it to any other befide thofe
who come under the character of Profelytes: —
thefe are queflions which I do not at all meddle
with at prefent j but fhall only beg leave to ob-
ferve, that in what circumflances foever this Rite
be adminiftred, in order to make it a reafonable
fervice, fuch an office as that of Coniirmation
with us feems very fit to follow, and a good deal
of inflrudion to attend both of them as clofcly
as poffible. For that Baptifm which alone has an
cffed: on our falvation the Apoftle plainly fliews
us [ I P^/. 3. 2 1.] mufl have this, not in itfelf,
by virtue of the external acft, and abfolutely de-
pending on any certain perfon, matter, form;
or operating like a charm 5 but in a moral, in-
telle<5tual manner ; and fo as to afred the heart

and

(3)

and influence the temper : it is not the putting
away the filth of the flejh, but the anjwer of a good
Confcie7ice toiimrd God : not the mere outward
ceremony of wadiing and cleanfing the body,
but a moft efficacious means of purifying and
preparing the mind for heavenly things j including
a folemn contract between God and us, whereby
we engage to devote ourfelves to Chriji^ and be
his true Difciplesj and God promifes on our per-
forming fuch engagement to forgive us cur lins,
and bring us to eternal life : and therefore implying
a lincere confcientious declaration of our faith and
refolution as to thofe feveral articles both of belief
and practice, concerning which w€ are there pro-
perly interrogated. Now as all this is fuppofed to
be done for us in our Infancy, and the chief parts
of confequence tranfa(5ted in our flead by proxy,
the fubfequent rite of Confirmation comes in very
feafonably to fupply the unavoidable defects of
fuch a tranfaction, to conftitute this primary
religious Office of a piece with all the reft, and
what each man's Religion ought to be, 2iperlbnal
thing J to render us complete members of the
Chriitian Church, and fultil the inftitution which
our Lord has left for making his Difciples;
Matt. 28. 19. And wifely has our Church ap-
pointed that we fhould be called to this juft when
we come to years of difcretion, and are entering
on a tempting, treacherous world j jufl as the lufts
of the tlelh begin to exert themfelves, and gather
{trength upon us ; and our great Adverfary is
lying in wait, and laying all his baits to enfnare
us. Againft each of theie (which we before vowed
to refilt, and which are now forming their affault)

A 2 does

(4)

docs the Church carefully prepare and arm its
members, by reminding them of their engage-
ments, and bringing them to a publick acknow-
ledgement and repetition of them ; by fortifying
them with refolutions, and directing them to the
means of keeping thefe engagements j by fupplying
them with fuitable inftrudiions on fuch an oc-
cafion ; by offering up hef prayers, with thern
and for them, to that end. Thus are young
perfons happily initiated in the fervice of their
Maker: this gives religious principles an early and
fure polleffion both of the head and heart : this
one good work, if properly attended and dif-
charged with due qualifications, would not fail to
ftrike them with that reverence and awe, and
give fo right a turn to their whole way of thinking,
as would be remembered by them (as it has been
by numbers ) and retained, all their lives after.
It mufl imprint in them fo deep and lively a fenfe
of their duty, as would in a natural way put
them on fome proportionable endeavours to per-
form it, and prove the befl means of entitling
them to the Divine affiftance, and deriving on
them all thofe maiiifold gifts of grace ^ which are
there fummed up, and particularly requeued.

Let us in the next place obferve the common
pradife of this part of the world in thefe refpedso
And firfl; for Baptifm. Many are extremely fo-
licitous about their Children being admitted to it
forthwith in a private way, efpecially if they be
not very like to live, (though to thofe only who
do are moft parts of the Office evidently appro-
priated ) on the leaft indifpofition the Clergyman
is f?nt for at all hours of Day or Night, and

they

( 5 )

they grow quite inconfolable if any one (hould
happen to die unbaptized on any account : but if
that Ceremony once be got huddled over, they
think all is done, or are very willing to truft
Providence for the reft. As to Inftruclion,
whether private or publick, about that they are
eafy enough, and rather inclined to put it off
year after year, and pafs it from one hand to
another. As for thofe Sponjon who are to attend
the publick admJniftration of Baptifm, who are
fo ftridtly charged and folemnly engaged to fee that
the Child be taught fo foon as he JJjall be able to
learn what was there done in his behalf; thefc
when they have either perfonally appeared to
fatisfy the cuftom, and do credit to their Neigh-
bour, or fent fome Deputation to that purpofe,
and difcharged their Fees, feldom concern them-
felves any farther about this Child, than upon fet
vifits to own fome fort of fafhionable relation to
it, and now and then make it fome prefent; or,
if they ftiould be called upon, perhaps attend it
once more to the Bifhop, and that too either for
mere form's fake, or in order to procure a releafe
from all thofe ftipulations which they formerly
entered into upon its account, and which they
never once bellowed a thought on fince.

Which brings me to the next grand point of
Confirmation : And this, it muft be Hkewife owned,
is either grofsly negle(fled by too many for the
greateft part of their lives, or haftily attended
where and whenever it falls in their way : it is
in the fame manner treated as a ceremony, under
which they are quite paffive ; looked on as little
more thr.n the Bifliop's Blefiing, which moft

peo-

( 6 )

people think may do them good as oft as they
can have it, and to which therefore perfons of
all ages will flock in a confufed, tumultuary way,
notwithflanding all the care that Billiops or Pa-
rochial Clergy take to regulate it. So apt are
people at all times to reft in (hew, rather then
enter into the meaning, or endeavour to com-
ply with the intention of a rite ! fo ready to place
Rehgion and the favour of God in fome flight,
empty, mechanical performance, of their own or
of others for them, rather than in thofe real, folid,
rational duties which reform and red:ify the in-
ward man, and are able to produce fettled habits
of Piety and Virtue ; thofe true and only terms of
acceptance which himfelf prefcribes ! And though
great pains have lately been taken, and many
ufeful treatifes are daily publifhed, to afiift and
improve Youth in almoft all other parts of Science,
and the means thereto, yet is the fcience of Re-
ligion, properly fo called, left in great meafure
ftill uncultivated j and thefe negleds and abufes
tolerated in the eftablifhed adminiftration of its
ordinances. How thefe and the like may be
remedied comes next under confideration.

Now the moft natural if not the only method
to recover a right apprehenfion of thefe things,
feems to be a proper manner of Catcchifing,
By catechifing I mean, not the procuring that
our own or any other Catechifm, or Compend of
Divinity, be laid over fome few times by rote ;
nor the delivering any ftated Expofition, Cate-
chetical Led:ure or Difcourfe thereon ; though
thefe may be of great ufe in their turns ; but the
frequent, familiar exercifing of young perfons in

it.

{ 1)

it, until they can thoroughly underftand and ex-
prefs the meaning of each word and phrafe j till
they have learnt to invent and apply v^^ords of their
own ; by putting it out of its prefent form, and
altering both the terms and method of it as oc-
cafion fervesj by turning the fame fubject into
different lights, conveying the fame thoughts iu
various drefs, and teaching them to give their
notions of the thing as much as poffible in their
own way and language : gently inililling into their
minds the firft elements of religious knowledge^
and again drawing them forth diverfly according
to the Child's capacity, experience and improve-
ment : thus leading them on gradually from
founds to fenfc ; forming their thoughts and fixing
their attention to the reafon and conned:ion of
things J aiding and inuring them to refled: a little
on fuch points as are within their reach ; and at
length enabling them to give a clear account of
all parts of the Chriftian Difpenfation, and be
fully acquainted with their duty both to God
and man.

This is the office of Catechifing : which though
it may be deemed a common and contemptible
one, yet is afiuredly a rare and arduous tafk, and
which perhaps requires the greateft pains and ilcill
of any part of the whole minifterial fundtion.
Nor has it of late, fo far as I know, been dif-
tindtly treated" of: how feldom, and v/ith how
fmall care it is performed amongft us, may not
be fo proper for me to fet forth. However, it
mufl be allowed that we fall far fliort of the
ancient practice on this head^ as appears both
from the accounts we have of fo many famous

Gate-

( 8 )

Catechetical Schools eftabliflied in the
times of primitive Chriftianity, and from fome
exercifes of the feveral eminent mailers in them,
which are yet extant : from which we may con-
clude that in thofe ages this would not have been
efteemed a work fit to be trufted wholly to the
Curate, and much lefs left to Parents, Pariih Clerks,
or petty School-mafters ; though the afliftance
of all thefe in private be very ufeful and even
neceflary to prepare and train up Children for the
performance of it in the Congregation. At prefent
this is a work which many, either difcouraged
by difufe and the low defpicable notions which
are too apt to be entertained of it, or deterred by
its difficulty ; are extremely fny of undertaking.
Some have not the heart, fome not the fice, to
fet about it : moll content themfelves with cauling
the Church Catechifm, or a comment on it, to
be repeated in the time of hent^ or fome few
Sundays after j and if they continue to hear the
Children employed in this till they can fay every
word in order, think that they have amply done
their parts in this refpecl. But the Church of God
in former times, both among Je^ujs and ChrijlianSy
underidood his precepts and their duty on the point
before us in a different manner : and whether our
own Church by requiring (as flie does in her
rubrick after the Catechifm and 59^'' Canon )
every Parfon^ Vicar or Curate to teach, injlru5i
and examine the Youth and ignorant perjhns of his
Farifiy in fome part of the Catechifm, for hafan
hour or more every Sunday and Holy-day j and all
Fathers, Majiers, &c. to caufe their Children, Ser-
vants and Apprentices to come at the time appointed

ohc"

(9)

obedietttly to hear and be ordered by the Minijlcr ;
and this with fo high a Penalty on each for their
negledl as Excommunication once was deemed ;
whether, I fay, Ihe means only their being taught
to repeat Ibme portion of this Catechifm by rote,
I leave to be conlidered. Sure I am, Catechiling
in its original true fenfe implies a little more than
the bare running over an old form, though that
confifl of queftion and anfwer, and contain what-
foever is needful either to belief or manners ; and
though our own be as plain, clear, comprehenfive,
and in many refpeds as good as moft, yet is there
Aill room for Ibme intermediate queftions and
elucidations before every point of Do6lrine in it-
may be rightly underftood, and well digefted.
Witnefs the definition of a Sacrament, wherein
the latter part refers fometimes to the nearer
branch of the foregoing ; fometimes to the more
remote j and where, befide the explanation of
thefe terms injible fign zndfpiritua! grace, it may
not be improper to afk, what it is which is given
imto us ; what was ordained by Chriji himfelf; how
is that fign, or vifible thing, a means whereby we
receive the fame, i.e. inward, invifible Grace : and
what is a Pledge, and how comes this to be fuch
a thing as can affurc us thereof, i.e. of our receiv-
ing and becoming poiTelTed of this Grace upon
the application of that fign : as alfo in general,
what goes to the making of a Sacrament ? who
is the Author or ordainer of it ? to whom, and
for what end appointed ? ^c. Again, the reply to
the fecond and third queftions in our Catechifm
will admit almoft as many queries to unfold
them as they contain principal words. Our Duty

B to-

{ lo )

towards God and our Neighbour requires to have
each part of it applied to that particular command-
ment of which it is defigned to be explanatory :
and fo likewife in that which follows the Lord's
Prayer. — But I am not about to propofe any
determinate fet of queries, or jfixcd method of
explanation : which muft entirely depend on the
Child's comprehend on, and vary according to the
anfwcrs given. Of fuch we have enough already,
and the fliorteft and eafieft the bell:. For what-
ever form of v/ords is ufed in this cafe, when it
becomes a Form, and is once gotten by heart, it
comes almoft to the fame thing; and our own,
as was faid, may do as well as any, if perfons be
but duly verfed and exercifed therein. Here is the
point ; and all that is wanting here is only firft
to underhand the words and their conflruclion,
fo as to get the main fubliance, or the general
dodrines of Religion inculcated into our Cate-
chumen, and when this is done effedually, he
may be carried on at Icifure to what lengths we
pleafe; or otherwife directed to more accurate
difcourfes on each head ; and will be able in good
meafure to judge for hiftifelf, and edify by his
own perufal of them.

But let not the Catechift be foon wearied out^
nor llraightway dejeded at the How progrcfs he
ihall make, and the feemingly fmall effed of his
labours at the firfl. The minds of Children will
be found to open infenfibly, and his way of ac-
commodating himfelf to them grow more apt and
eafy : their courage and his own will be con-
tinually improving, and the whole conduct of the
thing become more natural and more agreeable
Qii every frefli attempt.

Many

( " )

Many are indeed the real lets and impediments
attending this, and more the excufes for poft-
poning and omitting it. Among the poorer fort.
Children are oft otherwife employed, inter-
rupted and taken from School before they have
been 'tolerably prepared, or even taught to aim
at faying any thing out of the common road.
Among perfons of Condition (vv^ho fhould know
thefe things better and judge of them with mors
juflinefs) their Children are generally thought
above mixing with the reft, and being fubjecfted
to fuch publick, particular examinations. Servants
and grown up people ( how ignorant foever ) are
unwilling to fubmit to them, and afhamed of
ftanding expofed to the whole Congregation ;
many of whom likewife are but too apt, in the
beginning more efpecially, to betray fome unufual
levity, to entertain themfelves with remarking
and ridiculing any the leaft miftake, oddity, or

impropriety on fuch occafions. But all fuch

difficulties as thefe will foon be over when this
cnftom is once introduced, and for a while per-
fifted in : when each party becomes engaged and
meets with encouragement accdrding to their
induftry and ingenuity therein : and all thofe
hardfliips will in time be amply recompenfed by
the vifible benefits accruing to all that are either
immediately or more remotely affected by it :
which I proceed to touch on very briefly.

From what has been faid it is eafy to perceive,
I. How much this cuftom would by proper
exercife inlarge, ftrengthen and ripen all the powers
of reafon in young perfons: and 2. remove that
vicious bailifulnefs and inability to fpeak in publick,

B 2 which

( 12 )

which is fo mightily prejudicial to mofl people with
us J and thereby of what fervice it would be both
to the Mafter and Scholar. 3. By being thus
early grounded in the true faith we fliould help
greatly to prevent the growth of Infidelity, and
guard againft the prevailing errors of Popery, or
Fanaticifm, or any others. 4. This would foon
give a right notion of Religion, and fliew that it
depends not on a fet of technical terms, or trifling
ceremonies 3 not on any fubtle diftind:ions, or
fuperficial niceties 3 but confifls in a few plain fad:s
and rules of life, with the mod eafy, intelligible
rites inducing us to enter on, and to continue the
belief and praclife of them. 5. This would not
only lay a foundation for the infi:rud:ion of Youth
and improvement of the following generation,
but ferve to remind the prefent what they have
hitherto been doing, or engaged to do in the affair
of their Salvation 5 it may help to excite all hearers
to a proper recolledion of what they once learnt,
or ought to have learnt, on this fubjed:, and above
all things conduce to the making each of the
abovementloned offices more ufeful : to anfwer
the intents of Baptifm by what was done in our
Infancy, and to retrieve the credit of that once
valuable inllitution of Sponfors, but which, we
may perceive by what has been already faid, is
now fo much degenerated, as to become matter
of fcandal to Diilenters, and of triumph to Un-
believers, and of fo little benefit to ourfelves as
makes it doubtful whether it be worth retaining.
That any thing of a religious kind (hould be
mere matter of form is ever of bad confequence.
When an appointment howfoever excellent at firfl,

(and

( 13 )

(and the more fo, mod commonly the worfe is
its corruption ) dwindles into an empty unmean-
ing piece of pageantry i it then turns to a detriment
and a difgrace ; it introduces an habitual negledt
of facred things, infeds the minds of men, and
teaches them to look on all in the fame light,
and pafs them over in the like Jhrmal Hfelefs way.
It is true, the care of Parents, fo long as they
live and continue of the fame Profeffion, may
now-a-days be generally efteemed fufficient for
the education of their offspring : but may it not
be afked then, why arc thefe other affurances flill
given and required with fuch folemnity, if no more
be intended by them ? And though a collateral
fecurity be in moft cafes reckoned an advantage,
and was no doubt originally fo in this, and there-
fore no objedion lies againft the appointment in
itfelf ; yet as it now ftands it is no fecurity at all;
and can ferve, I fear, only to reproach us : as may
perhaps be the cafe with fome other things originally
of great ufe and expedience in the Church. — —
But it is not our province to dire(5t the Church,
nor of fo much fervice to cenfure and complain of
any Inftltutions which remain without effed:, as
to try all we can to recover thofe we have to
their full purpofe; to render them of fome ap-
parent ufe among ourfelves, and thereby recom-
mend them more effedually to others : which
feems moft likely to be done in the way propofed,
'viz. by confidering the nature and the fubjecft of
each in a due courfe oi Catechijing ; and which is
therefore one ftrong recommendation of it. 6. Nor
will there be other motives wanting to encourage
patience and perfeverance in this, which at firft

fight

( 14)

fight feems fo forbidding an attempt : fuch as are
drawn from a fatisfadtion to obferve the rife and
original dawnings of reafon, and the daily growth
of knowledge in young minds : (and the younger
they are the quicker will their progrefs be) from
a fenfe of our being inftrumcntal in the formation,
SB it were, and furtherance of fo many both rea-
fonable and religious creatures : from a confciouf-
nefs of having well difcharged this fo important,
though at the fame time fo flighted, a duty : and
from a comfortable afliirance that our recompence
will be the greater and the more entire in another
world, inafmuch as we receive the lefs retribution
of efteem or love for it in this. Farther, to animate
and quicken our endeavours, we ought to confider
( as the Church reminds us on another occafion )
that our Lord himfelf thought it not below him
to admit little Children to his prefence, take them
up in his arms, lay his hands upon them and blefs
them 'j and that he has hereby fet us an example
of fhewing our good will to fuch by doing all we
can to advance their fpiritual intereft ; and proved
(not in any figurative, fymbolical way j but by
the moft figniticant, exprefs declaration) that this
is by no means foreign to the Paftoral Office.

Let all men therefore heartily concur in and
contribute fomewhat to this excellent work ;
adding their warmeft willies, prayers, intereft and
endeavours for the accomplidiment thereof Well
were all thefe laid out, and happy might we think
ourfelves, could any thing of this kind prove ef-
fedual to excite a proper fpirit in all orders and
degrees amongft us: a true zeal, ftudy, resolution
in the Clergy faithfully to difcharge their truil,

and

( ^5)

and painfully perform this fo very ufeful, unex-
ceptionable part of their vocation : a good incli-
nation in Parents, Mailers and Heads of Families,
to prepare, urge and encourage all their Children
and Dependents : a juft regard in fuch as have
been Sureties to enquire what fort of proviiion has
been made for thofe for whom they themfelves
were once charged before God chiejiy to provide ;
and an infpedion (not merely out of compliment
and curiolity, but in good earneft ) into their re-
fpedtive attainments and behaviour under it : a
difpofition in the whole congregation to attend
with ferioufnefs and due compofure : in fliort,
the care and countenance, the approbation and
influence, of all perfons in each {ration and re-
lation ; in the Church and out of it ; in Town
and Country.

All this, were thus much to be hoped for, fs
little enough to recover the right ufe of a too long
neglefted Inrtitution ; which yet appears to be fo
neceflary to all parts of Chriftian Faith and
Worfhip, that without laying a fure groundwork
here, the whole fuperflrudture can be built
only on the Sand, {Matt, 7. 27.) and will accord-
ingly link upon trial, and in time of temptation
fall away : at bell:, each fubfequent religious
ordinance muft be but very imperfectly performed,
and with as little benefit to the performers.

Once more then, let all, as they rate thcfe feveral
advantages, lend their affiflance to the fecurity
and prefervation of them by the forementioned
means ; which is at all times fo much in each
perfon's power to promote, and in the duty of

pro-

( i6 )

promoting which every one has fo large a fliare,
as well as in the bleffing.

Were we but once fufficiently perfwaded of
this ; could we be prevailed on to give our at-
tention to it ; then would true piety be found to
revive in thefe degenerate days, and virtue flourifh ;
and our Church at length become the joy of the
whole Nation. Thus might we fee this ancient
and ever valuable pradife perfedly reflored, and
with it a true fenfe, lincere efteem, and pure
profeflion of the Gofpel i to the glory of its Author
and the lafting good of Mankind j to the falvation
and fuperior happinefs of our own Souls, and of
all thofe committed to our charge. Amen,

1 17 )

SIR,

f I ^ O the Treatile on Catechifmg I can fee but

I one objediion, though I think it will admit
of feveral improvements. The objection is, that
Infant Baptifm feems a little depreciated, as if
Infants were incapable of fpiritual Bleilings. It
muft be acknowledged that Baptifm does not
operate like a charm, and when performed without
ferioufnefs in the Parents, may have little or no
efficacy. But we are bound to believe, that by
virtue of the Parents faith, which is the principal
thing requifite in Baptifm, it may be the means
of deriving fpiritual Bleffings. He that heartily
devotes his Child to God, according to Chriil's
Inftitution, performs no vain Ceremony, but
fomething truly beneficial to himfelf and his Child.

The improvements which this Treatife feems
to require are chieily the propofing of fome proper
means to facilitate the work. I am fenfible without
a PariOi- School Children cannot be brought under
proper difcipline and duly prepared for Catechifingj
Might not the Author then fubjoia fome Pro-
pofals for ered:ing Schools in all Pariilies where
they are wanted ?

The Children fhould be diflributed into feveral
Forms or ClafTes, according to their age and
capacity. I fee no neceiTity for Catechifmg before
the Congregation ; if it is performed after Divine
Service, the People will be at liberty to flay or go
as they pleafe.

Why fhould the Author fend this piece into
the world in fo obfcure a manner ? Why don't

C he

( i8 )■

lie addrefs it to the Bifl^ops and Clergy, and call
upon them loudly to fet about that necellary
work ?

I have inclofed a fketch of fuch Propofals as
feemed chieHy wanting, with fome account of the
occafion for them, aq^ the ufes of them, and am

Tours.

Propofalsy^Jr erecli?ig o/'Englifli Schools i?i all the
Parijhes ^/'England, for the benefit of the Pcor^
and for the farther regulating and improving of
thofe that are already eredied.

f I ^ H E decay of Chriflian Piety and the in-
J^ creafe of Sin and Vice are fo vifihle in our
days, notwithftanding the endeavours hitherto
ufed to prevent them ; that it is to be hoped any
expedient which may be offered for putting a flop
to this growing evil will be favourably received
by all well-difpofed pcrfons.

It is a melancholy confideration that In a land
where the Gofpel of Chrijl is held forth in its
greateft purity, fo many Children for want of
being taught to read, fhould for ever be deprived
of one of the befl means of Chriflian knowledge
and piety, and fuffered to pafs that period of life
which might be fo beneficially employed, in ram-
bling, in idlenefs, and contra6ling habits of floth
and vice. And what is no lefs to be lamented,
gf thole who are fo happy as to be taught to read,

too

( 19 )

too many have little farther care taken of their
Education j being generally put to fchool to fomc
Woman of the place, who neither can furnilli their
minds with the religious knowledge they are
capable of, and form them to virtue, nor has
authority to reftfain their vicious inclinations, and
to govern their morals. Thus a great part of our
Youth grow up ; their minds uninformed with
religious truths, their morals deftitute of proper
care and difcipline ; left to the propenfities of
nature, and the prevailing intiuence of bad ex-
amples. And when thi^ happens to be the cafe,
the PariHi Minifter can only lament their mif-
fortune and his own j for unlefs by an extraor-
dinary Divine Grace they fhould be awakened to
a fenfe of their condition, there is great caufe to
fear they will refill or avoid any future endeavours
that may be ufed to inihudl and reclaim them.
There are various caufes to which this evil may
be attributed : Parents from die lownefs of their
Circumftances, or the largenefs of their Families,
are many times unable to procure for their Chil-
dren the benefit of a plain and virtuous Education :
and where that is not the cafe, a fit perfon may
be wanted to teach them, and to infpedl their
behaviour while the Parents are abroad at their
labour. But the moft general caufe is the cor-
ruption and negligence of the Parents ; who if
void of a true fenfe of Religion themfelves, will
be at no pains or expence to procure that blefilng
to their unfortunate Children. And unlefs it be
made the bufinefs either of the Parent or a School-
mafter to prepare them and bring them to the
Pariili MiniHer, to be catechifed and inftrudlcd,

C2 he

( 20 )

he may never have it in his power to do them
any material fervice.

The remedy for this evil feems very obvious ;
viz. the inltituting in every Parifli a regular method
of educating the Youth : they muft be refcued
from the negligence of their unnatural Parents,
and conimitted to the care and difcipline of a Man
properly qualified to inftrucl and govern them :
and the Parifh Miniiler will by this means have
an opportunity put into his hands to catechife them
as often as he fhall think proper, and in a manner
fuited to their capacity. The prefent Age, it muft
be acknowledged to the Glory of God, has di-
iHnguifhed itfeif by a pious zeal for propagating
the Truths of our holy Religion, as well as by
an uncommon fpirit of Charity to the poor.
While we are carrying on this laudable deiign in
Foreign Piirts, it were to be wiihed we did not
overlook our Brethren at Home ; whofe condition
(as to many of them) no lefs calls for our Chriftian
companion ; and whofe nearer relation to us gives
them a prior claim to it.

If the Charity-Schools ere(5led in Ircla?id and
the Highlands of Scotland^ and the circulating
'* Schools in Wales , have been found fo ferviceable

to

* Since thefc Papers were fent to the Prefs, I had the
pleafure of perufing a moH: excellent account of this extra-
ordinary undertaking, in the Letter fo a Clergyman^ together
with the numbers entitled JVclch Piety continued^ which have
indeed exhaufted the whole fubjeil ; and as well by producing
proper authorites, as by the moft powerful motives and the
nioft pertinent example, have in the cleareft manner evinced
the neceflity and vindicated this method of inftrudion ;
jdemonftrating what may be done in it by a due zeal and
diligence from fomc of the fmalleft and lead promifing be-

( 21 )

to the ends of Religion, what might we reafon-
ably hope for, were the like method to be inll:i-
tuted in every Parifh of E?2gland ? And it is pity
methinks, that while we annually contribute to-
wards the fupport of thefe Schools, any Parilh of

our

glnnings. Thefc Papers are well worthy to be read and re-
commended by all fuch as have a true concern for one of the
moft efFeclual and moft unexceptionable means of civilizing
and improving mankind by the promotion of real Virtue,
found Religion and undiflembled Piety, wherever it takes place:
and which perhaps is not lefs wanted in fome other parts of
Great Britain than where it has fo happily been cultivated.
It appears by the clofe of the lafl year's account, that there
have been 815 Schools fettled and 47230 Scholars taught
to read and underftand their Catechifm fmce the Commence-
ment of this Charity. I fhall take the liberty of annexing a
fummary recital of their method from ^^t farther account from
Mich. 1742. to Mich. 1743. P'5,6. *' Where a Charity-
*' School is wanted and deiired, or like to be kindly received,
*' no pompous preparations or coftly Buildings are thought
** of, but a Church or Chapel, or untenanted Houfe of con-
** venient fituation, is fixed on ; and publick notice given
*' immediately that a Welch School is to begin there, at an
*' appointed time, where all forts that defire it are to be
** kindly and freely taught for three months ( though the
*' Schools are continued for three months longer, or more,
** when needful ; and then removed to another place where
*' defired.) The people having no profpe^l of fuch an op-
*' portunity, but for a fhort limited time, commonly refort
** to them at once, and keep to them as clofely and diligently
*' as they can: though fome can afford to come but every
*' other day, or in the night only, becaufe the fupport of
' ' themfelves and Families requires their labour. The mafters
*' are inftrufted, hired, and charged to devote all their time,
*' and with all poiTible diligence, nor only to teach the poor
*' to read, but to inllrucl them daily (at leaft twice every
" day ) in the principles and duties of Religion from the
*' Church Catechifm, by the afliftance of fuch Explanations
*' of it as they and the Scholars are provided with; which
'* they are not only to repeat out of the Book, but alfo to
" give the fenfe thereof in their own words, with a Pfalm

''and

( 22 )

our own fliould be deftitute of that pious affiftancc
we fo charitably extend to our Neighbours.
Many well-difpofed perfons, it is to be feared,
have been difcouraged from contributing toward
pious defigns, by the apprehenfion they had of their
Charity being improperly applied. In the prefent
cafe the application will be made by the contri-
butors themfelves; or at leaft under their infpedion;
and the happy effects of it every day fenfibly felt.

The carrying of thisDefign into execution mufl
neceffarily fall to the lot of the Parilli-Minifter j
and in many places may poffibly require his liberal
contribution, at leaft till the ParilTi is made fenfible
of the benefit of it. But his labour and expence
he will think well beftowed, when fo effetftually
employed for the intereft of thofe committed to
his care J and when by the Divine Blefiing he
may thereby be enabled to gain many fouls to
Chrift, for his Joy and Crown of rejoicing in the
Day of the Lord.

I. That the erecting of the School be under-
taken by the Minifter of the Parifh either alone, or
in conjundtion with one or more of the Gentlemen

of

and Prayer night and morning after Catechiflng. Every
Mafter is alfo obliged to keep a ftri6l account of the
names, ages, and conditions in the world, and progrefs in
Learning of all the Scholars ; and of the Books they learn,
and the time or number of months, weeks and days that
every one of them continued in the School ; that the
Mafters may be paid accordingly. This account every
Mafter is to bring in writing at the end of three months,
with proper Certificates of the truth thereof, and of their
own Behaviour, figned by fuch Clergymen as condefcend
to infpeil them, as well as by fcvcral other crsditablcL
perfons living near the Schools,"

( 23 )

of Intcrefi: in the place ; who are to take upon
themfelves the infpedtion of it, to have the nomi-
nation of the School-niafter, and to be the proper
judges who are by their circumftances entitled to
the benefit of this Charity.

2 . That the School-mafter be of an unexcep-
tionable Charadter, have a complete knowledge
of the Principles of Religion, and be well qualified
to teach the Children to read, and ling the Church
Tunes. : and if the place affords proper encourage-
ment, that he be likewife capable to teach Writing
and Arithmetick 3 in which cafe the School may
be fupported at a fmaller expence.

^. That the more fubflantial Inhabitants do
pay for the Schooling of their own Children, at
fuch rates as have been cuflomary in the place ;
which may be prefumed to be the moft equitable,
but in cafe any alteration be thought proper, that
it be made by the Viiitors of the School, and agreed
to by the School-mafter before his Admiilion.

4. That the School-mafter be obliged to teach
all the poor Children of the Parifh, or fuch as the
Vifitors fliall require him to teach, to read and to
ling the Church Tunes: in confideration whereof,
he is to have fuch an yearly falary, fuppofe from
one to ten pounds, as together with the profits
arifing from the other Children, may make a
competent maintenance.

5. That all the poor Children be furnilhed with
School Books; and that a certain quantity of
Wood, Turf or Coals be yearly allowed for the
ufe of the School, as their proportion of firing.

6. That the Vifitors by their own, and the
voluntary contribution of moft of the fubftantial

In-

C 24 )

Inhabitants do yearly raife fuch a fum of Money
as will anfwer the demands above-mentioned.
In many Pariilies this will not exceed four or
five pounds.

7. That as in many Country Parifhes there
are Houfes upon the Walle, for the accommo-
dation of poor Families, one of thefe be fitted up
for a School- Houfe, and furnifhed with Forms
and Defksj otherwife that one be hired for that
purpofe.*

8. That at the opening of the School, the
names and ages of all the poor Children in the
Parifh be taken down in writing; and to prevent
its being crowded, only a proper number of the
oldeft be at fir ft admitted -, and that as thefe are
perfected the reft fucceed according to feniority.

9. That none ft:\all be received into the School
under five year«i of age, nor for a {horter time
than a quarter of a year : and that the Parents be
not allowed to call away their Children upon
trifling occafions.

I o. That the School-mafter morning and night
life a proper form of prayer at School ; that he
carefully infped the behaviour of his Scholars
without doors ; that he prepare them to be cate-
chifed by the Minifter j and all Sundays and Holy-
days bring them to Church, where a proper, place
fliall be allotted for their accomodation.

1 1 . That every Sunday after Divine Service,
or at fuch times as ftiall be thought proper, the

Chil-

* It' the Schoolmailer is married, and his Family can be
accommodated in the School-Houfe, his falary may in that
cafe be the fmaller.

( 25 )

Children be brought to Church, to be farther
catechifed and inftrudied by the minilter.'*

12. That in Schools already ere6:ed and en-
dowed, an additional falary be paid to the Mailers
or Ufhers for their particular pains in Catechifmg ;
and fome money fct apart to be diftributed as
Premiums for the proficiency of Children therein.

1 3 . That fo many of thefe Rules be introduced
into the prefent Schools, by their Vifitors or others
authorifed thereto, as their refpedive Statutes,
Orders, and the Circumftances of the place, will
admit or may require.

I hope the Author of the foregoing Propofals
will not be difpleafed to fee them in fome meafure
illuftrated, and the great ufe and neceffity of fuch
a Plan confirmed by the Teflimony of that pious
Prelate Bp. Beveridge, and therefore I have taken
the liberty of adding a few pafTages from the
Poftfcript to his very ufeful explanation of our
Cnurch-Catechifm, wherein he offered his fen-
timents to the Pubiick upon this fubje6t above
forty years ago ; with what fuccefs I am not able
to fay, but heartily wifh that a revival of the

* 'Tis obvious that Children may fay their Catechifm by'
rote, without underftanding any part of it ; and that when
an Expofition is read to them, they may chufe whether they
will attend to it or no: It muft be the bufmefs of the Cate-
chift to put them into a way of thinking ; and to defcend
to their capacity, by following fome fuch method as is ufed
in the Society's Catechifm broke into fhort queftions, or
Dr. Stehbing's Toung ChrijVian inJiruSied j at the fame time
enforcing the feveral Duties of Religion as they fall in his
Way. If the Children were inftrufted in this manner every
Sunday, it is to be hoped that perfons of more advanced
years would likewife attend and be profited by it.

D fcheme

( 26 )

fcheme and fhewing it in various lights, may help
to gain it fome attention now, and prove at length
a means of its reception and encouragement, in
this or any other fhape, as may appear beft fuited
to the prefent times and circumftances : in which
fomething or other of that kind feems to be no
lefs requiiite than formerly, and which in feveral
refpeds are better qualified than ever to accom-
plifh it.

P. 1 56. — There are Parifhes fo very large and
populous that it is morally impoffible for their
refpedive Minifters to inflrucl all the Children
and ignorant perfons that are in them. This feems
to be forefeen in making the law relating to that
JiibjeB : for it is there provided, that the Curate
of every Parifh fhall every Lord's-Day inilrud:
and examine fo many of the Children of the Parifli
as he fhall think convenient. And therefore he
fatisfies the law, who inftruds fome at one time,
and fome at another, fo many as he conveniently
can. But by this means the Curate in fome Parifhes
can fcarce go through all in a whole year j and
then all the other will be negleded and fuffered
to continue in their ignorance.

Neither do I fee how this can be prevented in
fuch great Parifhes any other way than by eredting
Catechetical Schools, fuch as were ufual in the
primitive times, and contributed very much to the
Propagation of the Gofpel. There was fuch a
School-Sit Alexandria, fo ancient that it was thought
to be begun by Saint Mark the Evangelift ; of
which the two famous ra^n^Pantanus and Clemens
Alexajidrinus were fucceffively Mafters. Origeii
alfo taught in the fame School, and afterwards in

fuch

{ 27 )

fuch another at Cafarea ; and fo did Saint Cyrill
at Hieriifalem^ who was afterwards Bifhop of the
Place ; whofe Expofitions of the Principles of our
holy Religion, which he made, as it is fappofed,
when he was only a Deacon and Catechift, are
ftill extant, and highly efteemed, as they deferve.
And indeed this feems to have been a great part
of the Deacojis, Office in thofe days. They were
not only to take care of the Poor, but to inftru^t
the Ignorant, or at leaft affift the Priejis in doing
it. And fo it is, or ought to be, at this day among
us, by the Orders and Conftitutions of our Church,
which in this, as in all other particulars, keeps
clofe to the pattern of the Primitive and Apofto-
lical. As appears from the Form of Ordering a
Deacon : for there the Bifliop tells him who is
Ordained, That it appertains to the Office of a
Deacon, in the Church where he {hall be ap-
pointed to ferve, among other things to inJlruB
the Toiith in the Catechifm. And then he folemnly
promifeth that he will do fo, by the help of God.
Whereby the Church layeth as great an obligation
as can be well made, upon every one that is
Ordained, to inftrud; the Youth of the Parifli,
where he is to ferve. And none can be admitted
to the Office, unlefs he have a Title to fome place
where he may ferve God and the Church ia the
execution of it.

Now if this was duly obferved, it would con-
duce very much to the furtherance of this great
work : for Deacom being obliged by the Law to
continue one whole year at leaft in that, before
they are advanced to the higher Order, if they all
Catechifed the Youth of the Places where they

D 2 ferve

( 28 )

ferve all that time, the Youth of fuch Places
would, at leaft for that time, be taken care of:
and they themfelves by teaching others would
learn more, and be better fitted for the Priefthood,
than by any other Studies which they can follow
in the mean while. And if none could be ordained
Priefts without Letters Teftimonial, that they
have £nthfuliy executed this, as well as the other
parts of the Deacon's Office, it would make them
more diligent and careful to perform what they
promifed at their Ordination. This therefore being
an Office which Deacons, as well as thofe in
higher Orders, may and ought to execute, and
there being fo many Deacons every year ordained
in our Church, out of them, together with thofe
who are already admitted to the Priefthood, and
are out of place ( of which there are too many )
all the great Pariflies may be fupplied with as
many as are needful to the inilrufting of all the
Children and ignorant People in them, fo as that
the Incumbents may have no more to do in this
bufinefs than what they may eafily compafs. For
they being all before inftruded in one or more
private Schools, according to the extent of the
Parifh, the Minifter upon the Lord's Day need
only examine in the Church as many as he thinks
convenient at one time, to fee iwhether they be
fully and rightly intruded, and at another time
as many more, and fo by degrees go through the
whole Parifh, and then begin again with thofe
which he firfc examined : for by this means there
will not be that neceffity of examining the fame
perfons publickly every Lord's Day : for they all
continuing to bs inftrufled in the Schools, they

will

( 29 )

will not lofe what they have learned, as they
otherwife would, but rather learn more than per-
haps they could at Church. And if they be at
Church too, as they ought to be, while the other
are inftrudled and examined, they may receive
the fame benefit there, as if they themfelves alfo
were fo. This I the rather obferve here, left any
fhould think that thefe private Catechetical Schools
might fuperfede the Minifter's Duty of Cate-
chifing publickly in the Church. For this is what
the Law requires, and the private Inftrudioas are
only in order to the having fo good a Law better
obferved. And befides, as the Minirter to whom
the care of the Youth is committed, muft have
an eye to the private Schools, to fee whether they
be rightly inflru6ted there ; fo it is requifite that
he fhould inftrudl and examine them in publick,
that his Parishioners likewife may be fatisfied as well
as he, that they are fo, and may be thereby alfo
put in mind of many things which otherwife they
might not think of.

And I hope there is never a Paftor in the Church
that will think this below him, upon which de-
pends the fafety of fo great a part of his flock as
the Lambs are, which he is exprefsly alfo com-
manded to feed as well as the Sheep, and that too
in the firft place, ^oh. 21. 15, 1 6, 17. I am fure
the great Apoftle did not think fo when he folemnly
profefTed, that although he [pake with tongues more
than all thofe he wrote to \ yet in the Church he
had rather [peak five words with his under ft anding
that he might Catechife others alfo ( fo it is in the
original ) than ten thoufand words in an unknown
tongue. I Cor. 14, 18, 19. But the main difficulty

will

(30 )

will be in getting fuch Schools for the Children
and Servants of the rich, as well as the poor
(for whom there are Charity Schools already in
fome places), fet up in all Parifhes that have occa-
fion for them, befides the Grammar and other
Schools, if there be any, where the Mafters ought
to inftrud: their Scholars in the Church Catechtfm^
as well as in any other Science, Art or Language.
In many fuch Pari(hes the Maintenance of the
Minifter is fo fmall, that it cannot be expedied
that he Hiould do it himfelf : where it is other-
wife, I doubt not but^nat he who is intrufted
with the care of all the fouls in the Parifli, will
do what he can towards it j as many do already.
But as the cafe now ftands with us, I do not fee
how it can be univerfally pradtifed, as it ought to
be, without the liberal contribution of pious and
well-difpofed Chriftians.

But, praifed be God for it, we have flill fome a-
mongus, wliftqut of a deep fenfe of their Duty, and
pure Zeal for the Honour of Almighty God, are
as forward and free to any pious and good work,
as if they could merit by^ it : and fuch can never
exprefs their Piety and Charity both together any
other way better, if fo well as this, which hath
an immediate tendency both to the Glory of the
moft hisih God our Maker and moft merciful
Redeemer j and likewife to the Salvation of fo
many thoufand Souls ; as well as to the Benefit
of the Church and Kingdom in which they live ;
and that too, not only for the prefent, but for all

future Ages.

I'HE END.

■J^'^

^■M^U\-^