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the duty of catechising or instructing the people committed to our care in the principles of the Christian religion, that they may know what they must believe and do, that they may serve God acceptably while they live upon earth, and be happy for ever.

Not as if I thought that this duty hath been hitherto neglected among you: for I have heard, to my great comfort, that it is generally practised throughout the Diocese every Lord's Day. But, taking my measures from what I have observed in other places, I fear, that notwithstanding all your care and diligence, you have not yet found that happy effect of it which you desire; and therefore will be glad of any direction or assistance that may be given you, for the more effectual performance of it.

It is, I confess, a thing much to be lamented, that among the many who profess the faith of Christ, there are so few that either strive to live up to it themselves, or take care that their relations and families should be taught it. Whereby it comes to pass, that in many places the Minister is often forced to omit this duty, for want of some to whom he may perform it. But, howsoever, that should not discourage, but rather excite you to use the greater diligence and application both in public and private, to convince those under your charge of the great necessity that lies upon them to observe what the laws both of God and man require in this case, as ever they expect or desire that either they or theirs should be saved: not doubting but that God's blessing will attend your sincere endeavours in this, as well as in the execution of any other part of the office and ministry to which He hath called you.

And whatsoever other difficulties you may meet with, you have a great advantage in having so many persons of great worth and quality among you, who, rightly understanding the excellent and truly Apostolical constitution of our Church,

have a just value and zeal for it; which I doubt not but they will be ready upon all occasions to shew, by setting before their tenants and neighbours a good example, as in other respects, so particularly in sending their children and servants to be catechised publicly in the Church: which they will do the more constantly, when they find that you do not only examine those who are sent, whether they can say the Catechism, but set yourselves in good earnest to instruct them thoroughly in all the fundamental articles of the Christian faith, and in all the duties which they owe to Almighty God, to their sovereign, to their parents, and to all their other relations, as well as to themselves and to one another. For they will then see that this is the best sort of education that parents can give their children, and that which will do them more good than any thing else which they can ever do for them.

Upon these and the like considerations, having spent some thoughts about catechising in general, so as to attain the end of it in the way that is here proposed; and having accordingly drawn up a short explication of the Catechism which our Church has set forth, I thought good to present you with it, as a testimony of my readiness to contribute what I can towards the laying the foundation in some, as well as to the building up others of the Diocese in our most holy faith.

If it hath no other, I hope, at least, it will have this good effect, that it will put you in mind to stir up the gift of God, which is in you, by the imposition of hands, and to exert it in studying, contriving, and using all the means and methods that you can think of, that all in your respective parishes, who as yet are young or ignorant, but capable of learning, may be so well instructed in the Church Catechism, set forth for that purpose, that they may be fit to be confirmed.

In the meanwhile, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to crown all your labours with success, and to carry you through the whole work which He hath set you, to the glory of His great Name, the benefit of His Church and people, and to your own everlasting joy and felicity.

London, 19th September, 1704.

W. ASAPH.

PREFACE.

If we consider the excellency of that religion which Jesus Christ hath revealed and delivered to us in His Gospel, we may well expect, that all who embrace and profess it should be the most excellent persons upon earth, far exceeding all other men in piety, and justice, and charity, and temperance, and every thing that is virtuous and praiseworthy. But we see to our grief and shame, that many who do not only profess it among us, but have the Gospel continually preached to them, are notwithstanding as bad, if not much worse, than some of those who never heard of it. Neither can it be otherwise, so long as the great duty of catechising, or instructing people in the first principles of the Christian Religion, is so generally neglected or slightly performed, as it hath been for many years together. For people being baptized into Christ, as they ought to be, in their infancy, although they then promised by their sureties to believe all the articles of the Christian faith, and to obey God's Commandments, and are accordingly obliged to do so, yet unless they be rightly informed, as they grow up, of what they then promised, before they have contracted any ill habits, whatsoever outward profession they may make of the Christian Religion, it hath little or no effect upon them. For they usually profess it, not as it is the religion of Christ, but as it is the religion of their country, in which they are born and bred. And although they have the Gospel preached over and over again to them, and make it a great

part of their religion to hear it, yet it makes but little impression upon them, because they do not understand the principles we go upon, nor the meaning of the terms we use, and must of necessity use, in the right preaching of it: which to me seems one of the chief reasons, why so many sermons in our days are preached to no purpose, except it be to aggravate the faults of those that hear them; whereas, if the principles of our Holy Religion were first instilled into those which are young, as they grow in years, they would grow in grace too, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and so by degrees would be rightly disposed and qualified both to understand and to receive the Word with all readiness of mind, and would profit more by any one sermon they hear, than others do by all, how many soever they be.

Upon these, among many other accounts, it is to be earnestly wished by all that love Christ and His religion, that the Rubrics and Canons of our Church concerning Catechising could be generally and duly observed. The Church of Christ would then put on another face, and true Primitive Christianity would soon be revived among us. For in the Book of Common Prayer, first composed and established by our Church, and then confirmed by the civil power in the last Act of Uniformity, immediately after the Catechism, we have these two Rubrics, that is, directions or rules to be observed.

"The curate of every parish shall diligently, upon Sundays and holydays, after the second lesson at Evening Prayer, openly in the Church, instruct and examine so many of his parish, sent unto him, as he shall think convenient, in some part of this Catechism.

"And all fathers, mothers, masters, and dames shall cause their children, servants, and apprentices (which have not learned their Catechism) to come to the Church at the

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