as necessary for all Christians to believe and know. As our whole religion, summarily contained in this Catechism, is grounded upon God's Word, so I have all along shewed what places of His said Word each part of it is grounded upon, regard being had to the original text. I have divided the whole into so few parts, and made every part so short, that as the substance of all that is delivered in every part may be easily remembered, so the whole may be gone over in so short a time, that both they who are catechised, and all the people there present, may be often put in mind of all the principles of our Holy Religion, many whereof are seldom touched upon in our ordinary way of preaching. Lastly, to every part, I have subjoined such questions as are proper to be asked, and may be generally resolved from something that was before delivered in the exposition, if they to whom they are propounded did but attend to what they heard, and by the help of the Catechist understand it ; which they will strive to do when they know that they shall be afterwards examined about it. By which means they will learn also by degrees to be more attentive at our Prayers and Sermons, as well as more affected with them than people commonly are.

But that this, or any other way that shall be taken, for the instructing children, may have its due effect, they must not only be taught the Catechism, while they are young and repeat it publicly for a while, and then leave it off again, perhaps in a year or two, but they must continue it for many years together. And though it may be proper to propound to them at first only one or two questions, such as the Minister shall think fit, under each head, yet, as they grow in years, and so are more capable, every thing that is necessary to be known in every part of the Catechism, should by degrees be made plain and easy to them, till they understand the whole, and are able to give a good account of any material question that can be propounded to them

out of it. But this cannot be done in a short time. They who are designed for any art or trade are generally seven years in learning the mystery of it, although they be usually sixteen or seventeen years of age before they begin. How then can children, before that age, be thought able to learn all the mysteries of our Holy Religion in less time? No, it is well if they can do it in so little: or rather, it is scarce possible they should, unless there be more than ordinary care and pains taken with them. The frequent repeating of the Catechism may imprint the words upon their minds. But to bring them to a right understanding and due sense of the matter contained in those words, will require a great deal of time, if not all they have, till they are fit to go out into the world, or at least are sixteen or seventeen years old. Neither do I see how it can be done in that time, unless the Minister performs his duty, as it is enjoined, every Lord's Day, or at least so as to go over the whole Catechism once, if not oftener, every year. For if he doth it only at one time of the year, as suppose in Lent, the children having forgotten what they learned the year before must always begin again, and so never come to the end. Whereas, if these great truths and duties be inculcated into them every Lord's Day, and so over and over again all along till they come to the foresaid years, or, if there be occasion, longer; they will, in all probability, make such impressions upon them as will stick by them as long as they live, and by the grace and blessing of God keep them always steadfast in the Faith, and sincere in their obedience to Him. And if this was thus constantly practised in every parish as it ought, the whole nation would soon find the happy effects of it. This being one of the best means that can be used for the reforming the many disorders that are in it, and without which it can never be done effectually.

I shall only add, that we having at this time so many worthy and learned men in our Church, I could heartily

wish they would all seriously consider how this great work may be best managed, so as to attain its end in their respective cures, as well as elsewhere; and accordingly set themselves in good earnest about it. I know not how they can employ their parts of learning to more advantage for the Church, their people, or themselves. But we can never expect to see it carried on effectually throughout the whole kingdom, unless some way could be found out to enforce the execution of the laws above-mentioned, so as to make it as much the interest as it is the duty of all parents and masters to send their children, servants, and apprentices to be instructed by their Minister in the Catechism, until they fully understand all the principles of our Holy Religion contained in it. But that being supposed, it may be easily done: for I doubt not but the Clergy would be all willing and ready to do their duty. And if any one refuse or neglect it, which God forbid, he may be compelled to it by his Ordinary. So that nothing would then be wanting to complete the work, but that every Bishop go through his whole diocese, as the law requires, at least once in every three years, to see how it hath been done, and to confirm those who have been thereby fitted and prepared for it. Without which all will come to nothing. For unless a Bishop doth his duty, or, in case of necessity, procure it to be done by another, both his Clergy and the people will be apt to neglect theirs; and the fault will, in great measure, lie at his door. Which therefore cannot be supposed of any who are sensible of the strict account they must give at the Last Day of all their actions, and especially of this, wherein the glory of God, the good of His Church, the Salvation of the souls committed to their care, and by consequence their own, is so highly concerned.

A CATECHISM:

THAT IS TO SAY,

AN INSTRUCTION TO BE LEARNED OF EVERY PERSON BEFORE HE BE BROUGHT TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE BISHOP.

QUESTION. What is your name?

ANSWER. N. or M.

As there is no national Church upon earth but admitteth the children of believing parents to holy Baptism, so there is none we know of but hath some public catechism or summary of Christian doctrine for such children, so soon as they are able to learn: but there is no such catechism set forth by any Church (much less by any private person) that doth or can exceed this of ours; which is so short, that the youngest children that can learn any thing at all, may learn and say it by heart, and yet so full, that the oldest Christians that are need know no more than what they are there taught to believe and do that they may be saved. For it contains all things necessary to salvation, and nothing else.

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And in this it seems to excel most other, that as all sons are (or ought to be) baptized, not into any particular, but into Christ's Catholic Church; so here they are not taught the opinions of this or any other particular Church or people, but the doctrine only of the Catholic Church; nothing but what the whole body of Christians all the world. over agrees in. If it may any where seem to be otherwise, it is in the doctrine of the Sacraments. But that also is

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here worded with so great wisdom, caution, and temper, as not to contradict any other particular Church, but that all sorts of Christians, when they have duly considered it, may subscribe to every thing that is here taught.

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From hence appears the excellency of this which our Church has set forth and calls A Catechism,' that is to say, 'An instruction to be learned of every person before he be brought to be confirmed by the Bishop:' for, when any are brought to be confirmed by the Bishop, they must, in the presence of God and of the congregation there present, renew the solemn promise and vow that was made in their names at their baptism, ratifying and confirming the same in their own persons, and acknowledging themselves bound to believe and do all those things which their godfathers and godmothers then undertook for them: which they can never do with that judgment and discretion that is necessary to so solemn a work, unless they first know what those things are, and for that purpose have learned this Catechism, consisting of five parts, every one of which is necessary for every Christian to be instructed in; viz. 1. Our BAPTISMAL Vow, or that solemn promise which we made when we were baptized; -2. THE APOSTLES' CREED, wherein are contained all the articles of the Christian faith;-3. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, or the Moral Law, wherein the whole duty of man is declared in God's Own words;-4. Our LORD'S PRAYER, wherein we are taught, by Him, how to pray for all things needful for us;-5. THE DOCTRINE OF THE SACRAMENTS that Christ hath ordained in His Church. All which I shall endeavour, by His assistance, to instruct you in, that ye may understand the true sense of every word in this Catechism, and so all things necessary to your eternal

salvation.

First, therefore, this Catechism being designed for such as are baptized in their infancy, as well as for other, that they may be taught, so soon as they are able to learn, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession, they made then by their sureties, it was very proper to begin it with this question, What is your name?' Not only because their name being the first thing that children usually know, this is the easiest question that can be put to them, and there

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