The Practical Sabbatarian, Chapter 34
CHAP. XXXIV. How we muſt ſpend the Evening of the Sabbath, when the Publick Aſſemblies are diſmiſſed.
THere are many who will give an eaſie anſwer to the queſtion Nos ab omni opere externo vacantes, deo uni, et ſoli hoc die vacemus; Ideireò et hunc diem benedixit, et ſanctificavit, (i. e.) in uſum ſuum ſeparavit, et elegit. Aret. Eph. 4. 20.propoſed, and will tell us, that when the publick ſervice is ended, we have our free liberty for all pleaſing Recreations; we may exerciſe our skil in a pair of Bowles, we may exerciſe our valour in a pair of Cudgels, we may exerciſe our fancy in a Dance, or a Barly-break: But all the reply I ſhall make, (this being ſpoken to before) is, I hope we have not ſo learned Chriſt. Now therefore my next task is, to lay down thoſe duties, with which we may cloſe Gods holy and bleſſed day.
We muſt carefully ſurvey, what we have been acquainted withall in the publick. The Repetition of Sermons is a heartpenetrating, and ſoul-edifying duty, the very manuduction, Quod toties Paulus eadèm ſcribit, hoc eſt, ad corroborandum; ut Chriſtiani ſint tutiores, cautiores, et vigilantiores. Alap. John 6. 12.and leading of families into the fear of the Lord: Holy truths are thoſe divine fragments, which muſt not be loſt, but gathered up by a faithful repetition. When the Miniſter hath ended to preach, we muſt begin to rehearſe; ſuch repetitions being the muſical ecchoes from that ſweet voice we heard before. If Paul thought it not grievous to write the ſame things, which he had taught before, Phil. 3. 1. We muſt not think it painful or impertinent to rehearſe the ſame things which we have learned before. The repedting of 1 Sam. 3. 10. Quaevis cogitationes, et rationes naturales intellectus quantumvis artificioſae, quantum vis ſublime ſubjiciantur doctrinae Evangelicae, et de facto ſubjectae ſunt omnibus eadem doctrinâ converſis. Mal. 13. 19.truth preacht, caſts a new light upon it, it clincheth Goſpel counſel the faſter upon the heart; and ſo corruption receives a double, and by conſequence a deeper wound. Samuel anſwered not God till the third time; it may be conſcience will anſwer that word in the repetition, to which it did not liſten in the delivery. Repetition of Sermons is like the Sun beams in the repercuſſion and reflexion, which ſhine in a more fervent heat, and a more conſiderable warmth. The ſecond ſhoot often kills the bird, when the firſt miſſeth: We know not what the ſecond hearing of Gods Word may act upon the ſoul. And we repeat Sermons in our families, not onelyonly barely to paſs away the time of a Sabbath, but by this fruitfull exerciſe our memories are recruited, the Sermon is more diſtinctly apprehended; the heart is a ſecond time aſſaulted and ſtormed, that it may be taken and brought captive to the obedience of Chriſt; Beſides in the repetition of the Word, we have a more private tender of life and ſalvation, miſappehenſions are this way removed, and the Original is cleared by the Copy: We often miſtake the Miniſter, when the Word is delivered; when we repeat the word, the miſtake is eaſily corrected and amended, to all which may be added by this heavenly courſe and practice. Families are trained up in Goſpel diſcipline, and the more we hear of Chriſt in publick and in private, the more our love to him is courted and conquered; and thus Servants better underſtand their duty, and Children better learn obedience. If we leave thoſe Sermons we hear, at the Church door, and there take our farewell of them, Satan quickly takes up our loſt treaſure, Diabolus eſt inſter avis famelicae, ſemen verbi rapiens, et ſat habet, ſi homo verbi alimento non paſcitur. Par.and then our attempt in the publick ordinances was in vain, it being not probable, that we ſhould give thoſe holy Sermons room in our hearts, which we were careleſs to lodge in our houſes by a conſcientious repetition. The ſtrongeſt hold we lodge divine truth in, is ſlack enough. Satan is ready to untie the knot, let mans care tie it as faſt as it may; and therefore we muſt tie truth upon the ſoul with a threefold cord:
1. With a diligent attention in the publick Aſſembly.
2. VVith a heedfull repetition in the private Family.Chem. Exam. de dieb. Feſt.
3. In ardent ſupplication running over the heads of the ſame Sermon in our more retired and ſeverer Cloſets. It was the cuſtome of our ſweet and dear Jeſus, after he had preached a Sermon to the multitude, to examine his Diſciples privately about it, and to rivet what had before been revealed. Mar. 4.Truths, like ſtars, are beſt when fixed; and when Luc. 14.our hearts, not our underſtandings, are their Orbs to move in. Vain controverſies, as the wiſe man ſpeaks, may not be repeated, for that will ſeparate friends, Prov. 17. 9. But divine Counſels muſt, for that will unite truths to the ſoul. And moreover our ſlippery memory may be made more conſiſtent by repetition, and ſo retentive of that word, which is apt to ſlide away. Surely great are the advantages of repeating Sermons in our families; it is like Lots holy violence to the Angels to force them into his houſe. The rehearſal of holy Gen. 19. 3.truth, is a ſweet attractive to draw Chriſt into the family, and it ſents the houſe with ſacred fumes, which the fire of the Word ſends up: This worthy practice makes our Si medico non eſt oppro…r…um de aegroto ſ… ſcitar…, ne que crimen eſt de auditorum ſemper inquirere ſalute. Sic enim moniti quid expeditum ſit, &c. Chryſ.houſes Chappels of devotion, and is nothing but Religion drawn in a ſmaller frame. In a word, when the Miniſters bleſſing hath opened the door of the Sanctuary for our departure, let us apply our ſelves to this experienced medium for ſoul advantage; our ſouls which were tuning in the publick may be muſical in private, and the Sermon may be more ſweet in the ſecond guſt and taſt of it; like the works of ſome learned men, which are more refined and enlarged in the ſecond Edition.
Another duty calculated for the Evening of a Sabbath, is holy Prayer: This powerfull ſervice is a golden thread which muſt run through every ſpace of a Sabbath; it is the ſacrifice of the Cloſet, it is the ſervice of the Family, it is the ordinance of the Sanctuary; it doth ſeaſonably break Quartum praeceptum ponitur in gremio decalogi, tan…uam teſtis amoris divini, et noſtrae obedientiae.the morning of a Sabbath, and uſher in the following duties; it doth ſweetly concur with the mid-day of the Sabbath, when our devotion, like the Sun, ſhould be at the higheſt, remembring that the Commandment for the Sabbath is in the midle of the Decalogue. And there is more work for prayer, it muſt ſhut up both the Morning and the Evening Worſhip; there muſt be prayer to beg a bleſſing on truths already diſcovered, that in their light we may ſee light, Pſal. 36. 9. And indeed prayer doth moſt becomingly cloſe the Mat. 13. 23.Evening of a Sabbath; then the lifting up of our hands are Pſal. 141. 2.inſtead of an Evening ſacrifice. Prayer is like a ſetting Sun, which is moſt glorious; like a well fraught Ship after its Voyage, which lands at the Port, which is pleaſing and joyous. In the Evening Noahs Dove brings the Olive branch. Prayer Gen. 8. 11.often is this Dove, when after the travels of the Sabbath, it ſums up all, and importunes ſucceſs and acceptation, then the ſoul is calmed with peace and rejoycing. In the Evening Mat 14. 23. Dan. 9. 21.Chriſt wreſtles with his Father alone in prayer, as if the Sun ſhould not ſee the triumphs of his Victory. Daniel was praying in the Evening, and then the Angel came unto him, the meſſenger of glad tidings to this humble Supplicant. 1 Kings 18. 37, 38.Fire comes upon Elijahs Evening ſacrifice, when Prayer preſented the oblation, as a ſign of pleaſing acceptation. We muſt then ſhut up Gods day, at Gods feet, that he may bid Luke 2. 29. Eph. 1. 6.us depart in peace, for he hath accepted us in his beloved; otherwiſe we may go to bed, but not to reſt: And our concluſive prayers in the Sabbaths evening muſt be,
1. Confeſſory. Our beſt Sabbaths have not eſcaped the ſtains of ſin, there will be iniquity in our holy things; our Condonet mihi deus, etiam ſacrorum meorum delicta. Aug.beſt ſervices are like the ſpotted moon, or a jewel with flaws. Auguſtine would beg pardon for the ſins of his holy duties: And we, when our Sabbath is ſetting, have more need of tears then triumphs, and ſay, as the Romans did of one of their Victories, ſuch another would undoe them. Prayer Jam. 3. 2. Pſal. 119. 59.therefore in the cloſe of the Sabbath, muſt look up to God with a weeping eye, and we muſt pray, that God would Jer. 3. 13.forgive the ſins of our prayers, that our dull ear, flat heart, ranging mind, floating thoughts, treacherous memory may be pardoned to us, and that the ſins of our Sabbath, may not ſowre the ſweets of our Sabbath; and ſo our precious priviledges, become as Ʋriahs letters whoſe contents were the deſtruction of the bearer: We let fall an Evening dew of Aliud Sabbat…m, et alia requies, relinquitur, et reſtat populo dei, popu-lo fideli, et Chriſtiano, putà, requies gaudium, et ſolennitas coeleſtis, figurata per Sabbatum Judaicum.tears upon our very ſervices on Gods holy day.
2. Petitory. But our ſighs muſt not ſo ſtop our language, but we muſt be begging, as well as moaning; and there are many things we muſt importune the Lord for the winding up of his Sabbath; we muſt beſeech him, that his ſmiles would ſpeak his acceptation of what we have performed that holy day; that his ſpinit would feal upon us thoſe inſtructions, which we have heard that day; that our lives might conform to thoſe bleſſed ordinances which we have enjoyed that day; that a full fruition of himſelf may ſucceed the ſweet communion we have had with himſelf that day; and that the preſent Sabbath may be the harbinger of an Eternal Reſt, which is the glorious reſerve God hath made for his Saints, Heb. 4. 9. We muſt likewiſe pray, that every luſt complained of that day may receive its deaths wound; that every ſin confeſſed and acknowledged that day, may receive its full pardon; that every opportunity of life poſſeſſed that Eccleſia … domus or…tionis, quia in eá a deo petimus, peccatorum veniam, vitiorum victoriam, virtutum robur et incrementum, in tentationibus conſtantiam, in gratiâ et virtutibus progreſſum, felicem mortem, et ſa lutiferam beatitudinem. Alap. in Iſ.day, may receive its deſigned end. Wreſtling with God is never more ſeaſonable, then on the day of God; then it is both ſeaſonable and ſweet; therefore let it put its laſt hand to our Sabbath. Of all graces, faith wears the Crown, Eph. 6. 16. Of all duties, Prayer wears the Garland, Iſa. 45. 11. This is the favourite in the Court of heaven, to whom the King of Kings can deny nothing. Gods houſe muſt be called a houſe of Prayer, Iſa. 56. 7. not of hearing, not of ſinging, not of receiving, but of praying. One letter in Gods name is, he is a God hearing prayer, Pſal. 65. 1, 2. It is prayer can ſanctifie afflictions, it is prayer can bleſs proviſions, it is prayer can ſweeten Ordinances, and make them marrow and fatneſs to the ſoul, Pſal. 63. 5. Prayer is the Porter to keep the door of our lips; Prayer is the ſtrong hilt which defends the ſtrength of our hands; Prayer is the Chymiſt which turns all into Gold; and it is prayer can turn a Sabbath into that which is better then gold. Let Prayer then bring up the rear of our ſervices on a Sabbath.
3. Gratulatory. In the cloſe of a Sabbath, let us triumph 1 Theſ. 5. 16.and …joyce in the Lord, and in the cool of the evening let us Semper gaudete, ſi non actu, tamen habitu. Cajet.not loſe the heat of the day; Let not our Sabbath be as Nebuchadnezzars Image, whoſe head was of Gold, breaſt and armes of ſilver, but the feet and lower parts iron and clay. Let not our hearts in the morning of a Sabbath, have heavenly Dan. 2. 32, 33.heat, and be in a golden temper, and in the evening, as dead and cold as the iron and the clay. It is very ſad, when our affections on a Sabbath, are like the graſs the Prophet ſpeaks of, Pſal. 90. 6. In the morning it flouriſheth, Zach. 14. 6, 7.and in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered. Some experienced Chriſtians can ſay, that upon the continued 1 Chr. 23. 30.care throughout the Sabbath, in the evening thereof; they have received large enlivenings of ſoul. Plutarch reports of a River, which runs ſweet in the morning, but bitter at night. Let not this be the emblem of our condition; but rather as Rivers have their Evening Tides, as well as their morning; ſo let it be full water with us in the evening of the Sabbath, and then we have many things to praiſe Jehovah for:
1. We muſt magnifie the Name of God, for the time of a Pſal. 92. 2.day, that the candle of our life burned one day longer, when Divine Juſtice might have ſnuffed it out.Acts 17. 28.
2. For the ſweetneſs of an Ordinance. Ordinances are the ſouls Jubile, the walks where we meet with our beloved, the Golden Scepter of Grace which God holds out to Eſth. 4. 11.us, now to come in and receive favour, the white flag of heaven, to beſpeak us to yield to Chriſt, and we ſhall be received into grace and favour; And how many of theſe Jewels doth God ſet a Sabbath with?
3. For farther tenders of life and ſalvation: Let God be praiſed, that ſtill the bargain is driving for eternity; every offer of pardon in the Goſpel is renewed love; the freſh ſoundings of Gods bowels, his heart once more yearning towards the poor ſoul; And is not this worthy our higheſt thankſgivings? The Perſians adore every new riſing of the Sun, and ſhall not we adore the Lord for repeated tenders of ſalvation?
4. For the liberty of Gods Sanctuary, which is his Royal Illuſt…t deus faciem ſuam, (i. e.) lucidâ, ſerenâ, benignâ, et amicâ facie reſpiciat ad templum ſuum, et illud inſtauret.Palace to entertain his Saints in, where he gives his ſweeteſt and moſt ſatisfactory diſcoveries, Pſal. 73. 17. There are the goings of God, Pſal. 68. 24. There God ſheweth his power, and ſhines in his Glory, Pſal. 63. 2. There Gods ſtrength is evidenced, and his beauty unmasked, Pſal. 96. 6. And there he cauſeth his face to ſhine, Dan. 9. 17. which is the moſt beautifull ſight on this ſide the beatifical viſion.
5. Let us praiſe God for the Riches of a Sabbath. In this Pſal. 14. 20.bleſſed ſeaſon we enjoy the treaſure of his Word, without Rom. 3. 2.which we ſhould have been both unholy and unhappy; and by its powerfull operations, we are made both gracious and glorious; and the giver of ſuch a gift deſerves the elevations of our praiſe, and we ſhould commemorate it with an Higgaion Selah. The light of the Sun, Moon and Stars, are Gen. 1. 18.of great concernments to men, they are the Governours of Joel 3. 15.day and night: But the light of Gods Word is of infinite more value. The Sun ſhall be turned into darkneſs, and the Moon into blood, Joel 2. 31. but not an Iota of Gods Word ſhall paſs away or periſh. By the Word, the glory and beauty Cur non poteſt Iota perire; quia tunc periret vox, et ſententia legis, ex Gr. foreign, ſi Iota periret, tuno eſſet foreign nullo ſenſu. Par.of the New Creation, the curious piece of mans redemption, is ſeen and known; conſidering then we have our Fathers will in our Mother tongue, we have and hear the Goſpel, which brings ſuitable remedies for every malady, ſuitable ſucour for every miſery, which brings the coſtlieſt Cordials, and the choyſeſt Comforts; let the enjoyment of this Word ſpring our Hallelujahs in the cloſe of a Sabbath.
6. For the frequency of a Sabbath. This might have been an annual, and not a weekly feaſt; were we kept for ſeveral moneths without a Sabbath, how would our ſpirits ſpring at ſuch a dayes appearance? Why ſhould the commonneſs of the Suns ſhining; and the Sabbaths coming, put a blaſt upon the mercy? A market day once in the week doth not tire or weary us; a Feaſt and Banquet once in the week doth not Mat. 12. 42.nauſeate or ſurfet us; when we mention the Sabbath, a greater then theſe inconſiderables is here. A learned Author obſerves, That near the Pole, where the nights endure divers moneths, the Inhabitants in the end of ſuch a night, when the Sun begins to be ſeen, they deck themſelves in their beſt apparel, and get up to the Mountains with joy and ſinging, and cry out, the Sun appears, the Sun appears. And ſhall not our Sabbath, when the Sun of Righteouſneſs appears; lay as Hoc vocabulum foreign traditur propriè de equis ſubſaltantibus, et transfertur ad motum qui ſit foreign. Van.great a foundation of joy and exultation in our ſouls? Indeed our Sabbath doth not onelyonly neceſſitate our praiſe for the ſweet proviſion of it, but for the ſpeedy revelation of it. The Circle turns about quickly, and then the Sabbath comes again, and meets us with his heavenly ſalutes. The monthly light of the Moon, how doth it chear the world? Much more the weekly ſplendour of the Sabbath, when the gracious perſon ſcaps in the womb of it, as fore-telling the coming of a Jeſus, Luke 1. 44. This weekly reſt how ſweet is it to Gods holy ones, and what a ſoftning argument to praiſe and thankſgiving.
Nor muſt we omit Catechizing of Children and Servants in the cloſe of a Sabbath. The learned obſerve, That the Greek word foreign, to catechiſe, ſignifies to reſound as by foreignan eccho. When we draw anſwers from our catechiſts, our children or ſervants, their anſwers are but the ecchoes of divine truth rebounding from the tongue of the anſwerer, which needs muſt be pleaſing and muſical to the examiner. This work of catechizing is like the watering of flowers, Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi, ſed ſaepe cadendo.which makes them ſmell and grow: This is truly diſtilling doctrine like the rain, Deut. 32. 2. drop by drop, which probably will make its way into the heart at laſt. This practice of catechizing is the firſt liquoring of the ſoul, Fundamentum animae fidelis, eſt Jeſus Chriſtus.which will not eaſily wear of; This is the laying of the foundation Chriſt in youth, and foundations are not eaſily ſhaken: winds may annoy the roof of the houſe, but not touch the foundation. Governors of families build their houſes not with brick, but inſtruction; and the hewing of 1 Cor. 3. 11.hearts by inculcating the word of life upon them, is the hewing of ſtone which will laſt and continue. Indeed chatechizing Luke 2. 52.is the feeding of the underſtanding, the exerciſe of the memory, the ſeaſoning of the heart, the teaching of the tongue to pronounce Shibboleth; and fidelity in this duty will leave marks in the lives of Children and Servants. Radix vitae aeternae eſt fides, origo, & pronuba omnium bonorum etiam & caeleſtium. Cyril.Let us then in the evening of Gods day make a ſcrutiny into the knowledge of our families, that they may learn to know God and him whom he hath ſent, and to obtain eternall life, John 17. 3. Maſters are not only to teach their ſervants their trade, but their Chriſt: And Parents are not only to ſee their Children trained up in ſecular, but in ſpiritual learning.
Firſt, Catechizing is a duty moſt gratefully accepted with God. God ſaith of Abraham, Gen. 18. 18. For I know him Sancitur officium aeconomicum parentum erga liberos, et domeſticos: Jubet deus Abrahamum, non ſepelire revelationes, ſed ad domeſticos et poſteros propagare. Par.that he will command his Children and his Houſhold after him, that they ſhall keep the way of the Lord. And for this God makes him a great and mighty Nation. God will aſſuredly bleſs and reward our religious care over our families, which is much evidenced in a carefull catechizing of them. And as we ſtudy to diffuſe knowledge to them, ſo will God ſhower down his bleſſings on us. Abrahams crown was not his flocks, but his care, not his wealth, but his diligence to train his family in the fear & knowledg of the Lord.
Secondly, Catechizing is a duty ſtrictly charged upon us. God commands the people of Iſrael, Deut. 6. 6, 7. That his words may dwell in their hearts, and that they diligently teach them their children. Parents in families muſt be as lighted tapers, to give light to all who are in the houſe; firſt they muſt rivet Gods word on their own hearts, and then drop it into the hearts of their families. Joſhuah's Joſh. 24. 15.reſolve was, That he and his houſe would ſerve the Lord. Governors of families ſhould be as Gardiners, which water the young plants at the root.
Thirdly, Catechizing is a duty moſt ſucceſſefully purſued upon young ones. This is throwing ſeed into a fruitfull ground, which will not want an harveſt. Timothy was trained up betimes in holy Doctrine, and afterwards he was a moſt excellent Evangeliſt. When a houſe is ſtrongly built at firſt, after-years will proclaim the care and fidelity 2 Tim. 3. 15.of the workman. As Sir Walter Mildmay ſaid of his Colledge which he built, Emanuell Colledge in Cambridge, He had planted an Acorn which might be an Oak in time; and this worthy Colledge hath been the ſeminary of many learned and excellent men. Every ſerious catechizing of our family is the planting of an Acorn, and aftertimes may ſee the fruits of that holy plantation. We have all varieties of Arguments to preſs this neceſſary and excellent duty.
We have Scripture. In the Old Teſtament the Jews were to teach their Children the Original uſe of the Paſſeover, Exod. 12. 26, 27. & other points of the divine Law. The Lord ſpeaks Exod. 12. 26thus, Deut. 11. 18, 19. Therefore ſhall ye lay up theſe my words Ezod. 13. 8.in your hearts, and in your ſoul, and bind them for a ſign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes, and ye ſhall teach them your Children, &c. In thoſe times Deut. 4. 10.children were taught the chief points of the doctrine of the Prophets, touching God, or the Law, or the Promiſe of the Goſpel, or the uſe of the Sacraments, and Sacrifices, which were the types of Meſſiah to come, and of his benefits; theſe and other Principles children were taught at home by their Parents. In the New Teſtament, Chriſt commands little children to be brought unto him, Mat. 10. 14. This evinceth the neceſſity of a Chriſt for our Children: And how ſhall theſe young ones believe on Chriſt, of whom they have not heard? and how ſhall they hear without a Chatechizer, without one to open and diſcover Chriſt to Rom. 10. 14.them in the plain and familiar way of Chatechiſme? Quando parvuli poſt baptiſmum adoleſcunt, Chriſto adducondi ſunt per ſedulam; ſollicitam, et piam inſtitutionem; cum annis creſcat cura noſtra de pueris. Par.which plain method of inſtruction adapts and fits youth for hearing t…e Word from the Miniſter, and is the firſt round of the Ladder of Knowledge. The careful inſtitution of children in Goſpel-knowledge, was no ſtranger to the firſt times of the Church: and therefore the Apoſtle Peter calls the Word Milk, 1 Pet. 2. 2. as being fit and proportionate ſuſtenance for young ones in Religion: And the Promiſes are called the Breaſts of Conſolation, Iſa. 66. 11. for young Children to lye at, and draw comfort from them.
We have Antiquity. A learned man ſaith, That Paul the Apoſtle was a Chatechiſt, grounding his aſſertion from 1 Cor. 14. 19. where that word we tranſlate teach, is in the Conciones Apoſtolorum fere tantum erant Chatecheſes. Alap. in 1 Epiſt. ad Cor.Original, foreign Catechiſe. The Sermons of the Apoſtle, often opened the very principles of Religion, which are calculated for the information of youth. And the ſame bleſſed Apoſtle layes down a ſhort Compendium of Chriſtian principles in a chatechiſtical Summary, Heb. 6. 1, 2. And we are told, that Cyril of Hieruſalem compoſed a Catechiſm De rudibus chatechizandis. Aug.for the benefit of Chriſtian youth; That Gregory Nyſſene made a chatechiſtical Oration; And Auguſtin wrote a Treatiſe concerning chatechizing the ignorant, as being the moſt proper way of diffuſing and diſſeminating Goſpel-light. A De pueris ad Chriſtum trahendis. Gerſ. in part. 2.learned man tells us, that Genſon, Chancellour of Paris, in later times, did uſually inſtruct Children, and did it to the great benefit of the Church of God: The Church did gather O …iſſime Jeſu, quis ultra poſt te verecundabitur humilis ad parvulos, &c Ger.the fruit of ſuch watered Nurſeries. The ſame Author tells us, that Gerſon wrote a Treatiſe concerning drawing children to Jeſus Chriſt: And in this Tract, falls into this holy Rapture: O moſt holy Jeſus, who after thee ſhall be aſhamed to condeſcend to children, when thou haſt invited little ones to thy ſelf? O gracious Chriſt, wilt thou intwine children in thy ſacred Arms, and fold them in thy divine Embraces? And ſhall any who is ſpiritual, and ſeeks not his own things, but the things of Chriſt, whom charity, humility Euſeb. Eccleſ. Hiſt lib. 6. c. 3. Ab eccleſiâ domi redeuntes, Amici inter ſe, cum filiis Parentes, cum ſervis domini, meditarentur, & contenderent, quomodo quae imperata ſunt exequenda ſint. Chryſoſ.and piety guides, refuſe the introduction of younger ones, to prepare them for the Embraces of the dear Jeſus? Euſebius writes of Origen, that he reſtored the pious cuſtome of Chatechizing in Alexandria, when in times of perſecution it was very much decayed. Chryſoſtom was wont pathetically to perſwade his Auditours; that when they came from Church on the Lords day, That they ſhould diſcourſe among themſelvs, and Parents with their children, Maſters with their ſervants, how they might act and do what they were commanded. And Origen, in his 9th. Homily on Leviticus, makes it his ſerious Option, That we would be exerciſed, not only in the Church, but in our houſes in meditating and canvaſing Gods Word; For, ſaith he, Chriſt will be with them, who ſeek after him. Thus we ſee the Golden times of the Church much favoured and followed this ſucceſsful practice.
We have reaſon. 1. Catechizing is neceſſary, that Novices and young ones be not entangled and ſeduced into erroneous Quo ſemel eſt imbuta recens ſervabit odorem, Teſta diu.opinions, Chatechizing is the hammer to beat down hereſies: Cloth which is died in grain before, will not eaſily take another colour. Youth having drunk in the ſaving and fundamental Truths of Religion, will hardly be led aſide to another doctrine. The firſt ſent remains in the Veſſel. The Janizaries are the fierceſt Turks, and they are taken from Chriſtian Parents in their childh…od, and ſo trained up in the Mahometan Religion. The ſame fruits the Tree bears when it is young, it bears ever after. Chatechizing layes the foundation which Seducers cannot eaſily ſhake and pluck up. Ignorance is the mother of weakneſs, and layes us open to deſtructive changes.
2. Thoſe who learn throughly the Chatechiſme, will better underſtand Sermons, and they will be able eaſily to reduce Facile eſt inventis addere.whatever they hear from the Word, to the ſeveral heads of their Chatechiſm. Mariners have their ſeveral ſide-winds, but they can bring every wind to verge towards one of their four chief winds. Principles of Religion take in the whole of Religion reductively, and Principles are dropt into youth by Chatechiſm. One gravely obſerves, That Sermons without Conciones ſine chatechizatione praeparatoriae ſine fructu, et emolumento uſitatiſſimè ce… ditae ſunt. Urſin.out preparatory Chatechiſm and inſtruction are heard to little profit or advantage. Ignorant perſons more uſually hear a ſound than a Sermon; like Pauls Companions in their journey to Damaſcus, who heard a voyce, but no language, Acts 9. 6. Ignorant perſons travel in the dark, and the light of a Sermon doth rather confound then convince them, they are ſtill more in the dark, and the learning of Principles muſt bring them in their way.
3. Chatechiſm is moſt accommodate to young and in judicious perſons: A copious and vagrant form of inſtruction is not ſuitable to youth and Chriſtians of the lower form: The Scholar learns not the Greek language at the firſt; it is the Accidens, not Homer, is fit for his firſt ſetting forth in the travels of literature: Every thing is good according to proportion: We eat not loaves but morſels; The Nurſe chews the meat, and then puts it into the childs mouth: Inculcated principles muſt firſt be prepared for children and ſervants, and doctrines muſt run parallel with their capacities. The Sun riſeth by degrees, nor doth it get up to its full height till its juſt time.
We have intereſt: If we will have obedient children and faithful ſervants, let us pave their minds with Scripture-principles, and this will chaſe away that ignorance which is the ſpring of all irreligion. Every flowr the beaſt feeds upon, we have the ſweetneſs of it in the milk; and ſo all thoſe truths we inſinuate into the hearts of our Families in a chatechiſtical way, we ſhall find in their behaviours and carriages. The coſt we beſtow on our Gardens, we find in the ſpring, and then the ſweetneſs of the Roſe, and the beauty of the Tulip will court both our eye and our ſmell; ſo in this caſe, our pains in chatechizing will be found in the towardlineſs of the youth of our Families; and if we would turn our houſes into little Churches, chatechiſm muſt be Col. 4. 15.the chiefeſt conſecration; But if we lay aſide this ſucceſsful duty, Ignorance will overgrow the Family, and then a cloud of ignorance will eaſily melt into a ſhower of profaneneſs; The darkneſs in the head will turn into darkneſs 1 C…r 2 8.in the deed; and our Family may not love Chriſt, probably becauſe they do not know him. Well inſtructed are uſually well governed Families: Let ſomething then of the Sabbath Evening be ſpent and employed in this influentiall Duty.