The Life and Death of Joseph Alleine, Biography · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. A further Account of his Catechizing, both in Publick and Private, by Mr. G.
WHen he did Catechise the greater Sort in Publick, before he was Silenced, his manner was to begin with Prayer for a Blessing upon that Exercise: And having proposed some Questions out of the Assemblies Catechism to them, he was careful, not onelyonly to make them perfect in rehearsing the Answers there set down, but also to bring them to a clear understanding of the sence and meaning of the said Answers, and of all the Terms and Phrases in which they are expressed; And to draw some practical, useful, inferences from those Heads of Divinity contained in them. Moreover, when any distinction was necessary for the clearing up of the matter in hand; he would be also instructing his Catechumen's therein; Now this he would do, by proposing several other Collateral Questions, besides those in the Catechism; which Questions, together with the Answers to them, himself had before drawn up, and sent to them in writing.
In the Even of the Lord's Day, his course was to repeat his Sermon again, in the publick Place of Worship, where abundance of People constantly resorted to hear him; which when he had done, several Youths were called forth, which did give him an Account of the Heads of all his Sermon by Memory.
As for his Method in going from House to House, for the instructing of Private Families, it was this; He would give them notice of his coming the day before,
Desiring that he might have admittance to their Houses, to converse with them about their Soul-Concerns, and that they would have their whole Family together against he came. When he came, and the Family were called together, he would be instructing the younger sort in the Principles of Religion, by asking several Questions in the Catechism; the Answers to which he would be opening and explaining to them. Also he would be enquiring of them about their spiritual Estate and Condition, labouring to make them sensible of the evil and danger of Sin, the corruption and wickedness of our Natures, the misery of an unconverted State; stirring them up to look after the true Remedy proposed in the Gospel, to turn from all their sins unto GOD, to close with Christ upon his own Terms; to follow after Holiness, to watch over their Hearts and Lives, to mortifie their Lusts, to redeem their Time, to prepare for Eternity. These things as he would be explaining to their understandings, that they might have clear apprehensions about them; so he would be pressing the practice of them upon their Consciences, with the most Cogent Arguments and Considerations, minding them of the great Priviledges they did enjoy, the many Gospel-Sermons that they did or might hear, the many Talents they were intrusted withal, and the great account that they had to give to the GOD of Heaven. Telling them how sad it would be with them another day, if after all this they should come short of Salvation. Besides, he would leave with them several Counsels and Directions to be carefully remembred and practised for the good of their Souls. Those that were serious and religious, he would labour to help forward in Holiness, by answering their Doubts, resolving their Cases, incouraging them under their difficulties. And before he did go from any Family, he would deal with the Heads of that Family, and such others as were grown to years of discretion, singly and apart: That so he might (as much as possibly he could) come to know the condition of each particular Person in his Flock, and address himself in his Discourse as might be suitable to every of them. If he did perceive that they did live in the neglect of Family Duties: He would exhort and press them to set up the Worship of GOD in their Families, as Reading, Prayer, and directing them how to set about it, and to take time for secret Duties too. Such as were Masters of Families, he would earnestly perswade, and desire, as they did tender the Honour of Christ, and the welfare of their Children, and Servants Souls to let them have sometime every day for such private Duties, and to incourage them in the performance of them; neither would he leave them before he had a promise of them so to do. Sometimes also he would himself go to Prayer before his departure. This was his method in the general; although with such necessary variation in his particular Visits, as the various State and Condition of the several Families did require. If the Family where he came were ignorant, he would insist the longer in Instructing and Catechizing: If loose, in reproving and convincing: If Godly, in incouraging and directing.
He did use to spend five afternoons every week in such exercises, from one or two of the Clock, until seven in the evening: In which space of time, he would visit sometimes three or four Families in an afternoon, and sometimes more, according as they were greater or less. This course he would take throughout the Town; and when he had gone through, he would presently begin again, that he might visit every Family as often as he could. He often did bless GOD for the great success that he had in these Exercises, saying, that GOD had made him as instrumental of good to Souls this way, as by his publick Preaching, if not more. When the Ministers of this County of Somerset, at one of their Associations which heretofore they held, were debating whether, and how far it were incumbent upon them to set up private Family Instruction in their particular charges; Mr. Allein was the Man that they pitched upon for to draw up his Reasons for that practice, together with a Method for the more profitable management of it.
An Abridgment of what he drew up, here Followeth.
IT being the unquestionable Duty of all the Ministers of the Church of Christ, To take heed to all the Flock over whom the Holiest hath made them Overseers; and to Teach, & Preach, not only publickly, but from House to House; not onelyonly taking a general care of the whole, or calling out the chiefest of the Sheep, for our particular Care and Inspection, as the manner of some is, and leaving the rest to sink or swim: But as good Shepherds iniquiring into their Estates, observing the particular Marks, Diseases, Strayings of our Sheep, and applying our selves suitably to their Cases; In a word, warning every man, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus; Therefore it behoveth us, to study to do this great Duty in such a manner, as may be acceptable to God, and profitable to our Flocks. The directions for performing this Duty, are either more general, or more special; for the more general Directions, they are either such as concern the entrance on this Duty, or the performance of it. For those that concern the Entrance:
1. It will be necessary, that we convince the People of the necessity of this Duty.
2. That we study to manage this great Work to our Peoples best advantage.
3. That we set apart such set-times for this great Work, as upon consideration we shall find most convenient for them and us, resolving to be constant in observing them.
4. That we pray for Wisdom from Above, what, and how to speak.
5. That we send word to the People, when we intend to visit them, that they dispose of their business to receive us.
For those that concern us, in the mannaging of the Duty:
1. The Family being called together, we may, if time and conveniency permit, begin with Prayer.
2. The Family, consisting of Superiours, and Inferiours, it would not be amiss to begin with the Inferious; for many can hear their Children, and Servants Examined contentedly, that cannot bear it themselves: For that they will not disdain to give an account of themselves before their Superiours, though their Superiours would disdain to give account before them; and here it will be necessary to enquire into their Knowledge, Practice, States.
1. Their Knowledge; here we may examine what progress they have made in the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ, and try them in the Catechism.
2. What they do gain by the publick Ministry, what they remember of the Sermon last heard.
2. In their Practice.
1. In their Duty towards God; where it may be useful to inquire, if they make Conscience of secret Prayer; the necessity of it may be expressed, the nature of it opened, and some heads of Prayer explained; and if they be such as need it, it would be useful to commend to them some form, for the present help.
2. In the Duties of their Relations towards …; and if they be pressed to Faithfulness, Diligence, and Uprightness, the Duties they owe to those that were over them, it would be very convenient.
3. Into their Estates; and here we may take an account of them, what they think of the state of their Souls, shewing the paucity of them that are saved, the desperate … of the heart, the infinite danger of being deceived, the wiles and devices of Satan to beguile them; from whence, and such like Arguments, we may press them to be diligent in inquiring, what the case of their Souls is, to be jealous of themselves, where we may take occasion to shew them,
1. That every Man by Nature is in a damnable estate.
2. The absolute necessity of Conversion.
3. By what signs they may know whether they remain in, or are delivered from, this Estate: which signs should be few, plain, certain, and infallible, sounded upon the clear evidence of the Word; and because the searching Work is so displeasing to the Flesh, that it might disingage them to come too close at first, It may not be amiss to defer this, till we had got some interest in their Hearts, by a loving tender carriage.
3. The Inferiours being thus dealt with, may be … to their several Imployments, and then we may take occasion to discourse with the Heads of the Families, proceeding as prudence shall direct upon some of the fore-mentioned particulars.
1. We may enquire whether they perform this great Duty of Prayer in the Family, offering them helps if they need.
2. We may press them to Instruct and Catechise their Families.
3. We may … them to the strict Sanctifying the Lord's Day.
4. If they are poor, we may draw forth the Hand of our … towards them.
5. If we know any evil by them, we may take them aside privately, shewing them the sinfulness of their practice, and ingaging them to promise reformation.
6. We should leave with them some few particulars of greatest weight, often repeating them till they remember them, ingaging them to mind them, till we shall Converse with them again.
7. Our dealing with them, must be in that manner that may most prevail, and win upon their hearts.
1. With Compassion; being kindly affectioned to them, Charging, Exhorting, Comforting every one of them, as a Father his Children.
2. With Prudence; warning and teaching them in all Wisdom, applying our selves to the several Cases and Capacities.
1. To the Rich in this World, shewing more respect as their places require, charging upon them those Duties that are required of them in special.
2. To the poor, you may be more plain and free, pressing upon them those Duties that are most proper to their condidition.
3. To the Aged, we must be more reverent, labouring to root out of them the love of the World, shewing them the dangerousness of Covetousness, and the necessity of making speedy preparations for Eternity.
4. The Men are to be exhorted to Temperance and Sobriety; diligence in their Callings, &c.
5. Women to Meekness, Humility, Subjection to their Husbands, and constant infusing good Principles into their Children.
3. With Patience, being gentle to all Men; in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, bearing with their dulness, rudeness, and disrespectfulness, waiting for their repentance.
4. With all faithfulness, giving no occasion of offence, that our Ministry be not blamed.
5. With Zeal, as Apollo, fervent in Spirit, teaching diligently the things of the Lord, &c.
6. With plainness, not betraying their Souls to Hell, and ours with them, for want of faithfulness, and closeness in our dealing with them; it being not sufficient in general, that no Drunkard, &c. shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven; but telling them plainly, and particularly, such is your looseness, your ignorance, that I fear you are in an unconverted state.
7. With Authority; dealing with them in the power and demonstration of the Spirit.
8. With Humility; Not lording it over God's Heritage, but condescending to men of low Estates: Nor disdaining to go into the Houses of the meanest.
The sort of Directions are more special, respecting the several sorts of our People, who may be ranked into four Heads, the Ignorant, Prophane, Formal, Godly.
First, For the Ignorant: Our Work with them will be,
1. To convince them that are Ignorant, which may be done by shewing their inability, to answer some plain familiar Questions.
2. To shew them the dangerous, yea, the damnable nature of ignorance.
3. To Press them with all possible earnestness, to labour after knowledge.
4. To answer their carnal Pleas for their ignorance, when wilful.
Secondly, For the Prophane: It would be necessary to deal with them convincingly, shewing the certain damnation they are running upon.
Thirdly, For the Formal: With these we must deal searchingly, and shew them,
1. How easily Men may mistake the Form of Godliness for the Power.
2. The undoing danger of resting in being almost a Christian.
3. The most distinguishing differences between an Hypocrite and a sincere Christian.
Fourthly, For the Godly: To these we must draw forth the Breasts of the Promises, opening to them the riches and … of Christ; inquiring into their growth in Grace; quickning them to labour after assurance, to be stedfast in the Faith; patient in suffering; diligent in doing the Will of Christ, … of good Works, alwayes abounding more and more.
There is one thing more, in which his self-denyal, and other Graces, were very exemplary: Namely, his faithfulness in reproving the miscarriages of Professors, sparing none, whether High or Low, whether Ministers or Private Christians; yea, although they had been never so dear in his affections, and never so obliging in their carriage to him, yet if he found in them any thing that was reproveable, and blameworthy, he would deal with them faithfully and plainly about it, whatsoever the issue and event were.
One time when he was going about such a Work, he told a Christian Friend, with whom he was very intimate and familiar; Well (sayes he) I am going about that which is like to make a very dear and obliging Friend, to become an Enemy: But however, it cannot be omitted, it is better to lose mans favour, than GOD's. But GOD was pleased (then, as well as divers other times besides, when he went about business of this nature) to order things for him, better than he could have expected, and so to dispose of the heart of the Person with whom he had to deal, that he was so far from becoming his Enemy for his consciencious faithfulness to him, that he loved him the better ever after as long as he lived.
As to his judgment about the Arminian Controversies, as far as I can perceive, who have discoursed with him about them, it was much-what the same with Doctor Davenants, and Mr. Baxters.
He was a Man of a very calm and peaceable Spirit, one that loathed all tumultuous carriages and proceedings; he was far from having any other design in his Preaching, than the advancement of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus, by the conversion and salvation of Souls: This was the mark that he had in his eye; this was that for which he laboured, and ventured, and suffered, and for which he thought he could never lay out himself enough.
Though he were but a young Man, yet in his carriage he was exceeding serious and grave, and … very humble, courteous, and affable, condescending to discourse with the poorest and meanest Persons, for their spiritual good, as soon as with the greatest and richest.
And indeed so unblameable and convincing was he in the whole of his conversation, that there were very few religious and sober Persons that knew him, either in Town or Country, either Ministers, or People, (yea, though some of them differing in judgment from him) but did highly approve of him. And for his Brethren in the Ministry here in these parts, such was his holy and discreet deportment amongst them; that he had as great an influence upon them, as few others had the like.
He was full of holy projects, often bethinking himself by what wayes and means he might more effectually promote the honour of Christ, and the benefit of Souls, and whatsoever he apprehended to be conducing to these highest ends, he would prosecute with that wisdom and vigour, that he seldom failed of bringing it to a comfortable and successful issue.
Of which Projects, this is one which I shall here insert. Having considered how much the Conscientious, and frequent performance of the duty of Self-Examination, might tend to the bringing down of Sin, and furtherance of Holiness, both in heart and life; He did earnestly press the said Duty on his Hearers in his Preaching, directing them in the performance; and not onelyonly so, but dealt with them also in private about it, and got a promise from the most of them, that they would every night, before they did take their rest, set about this Duty; and spend some time in secret, on purpose to call themselves to an account, how they had carried it that day, by proposing several Questions to their own hearts, which Questions he had referred to several Heads, and drawn up for them in writing.
And not a few of them have acknowledged, that they have cause to bless GOD, who stirred him up to put them upon this practice, which they have found very helpful to them in their daily Christian Walk.