Some Helps for Young Scholars in Christianity, Part 1 – Part 2
The Forme of familiar inſtruction and examination of rude people, entring to be diſciples in the ſchoole of Chriſt: practiſed in the new erected Kirk of Salt-Preſtoun, and pariſh thereof before the Communion, not without experience of ſome profite and edification of Gods people. Prayſed be God bliſſed for euer through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord, Amen.
AFter that the wryter hath taken vp the names in writ, of ſa mony as for the tyme are preſent of them, that were warned to that dyet, according to our viſitation paſting before: and hath demanded of eueryevery ane, whether they can ſay the x. commands, the Belief, & the Lordes Praier, and hath tryed ſome maiſte ſuſpected of ignoraunce in that caiſe, (thocht otherwiſe they affirme, as the maner is, they can ſay them) and exhortation giuen to learne with diligēce where they want any thing: we proceid to prayer, after this, or the like maner following.
The Prayer before the Catechyzing, at the Examination.
BLiſſe vsus gude Lord, and this familiar exerciſe, that preſently we are to hauehave (by thy grace) in catechiſing and inſtructing thy people familiarly in the way of trueth: that thereby our owne miſery by nature, and happy eſtate by grace in Chriſt, being the better knawin to eueryevery ane of vsus, and this grace in Chriſt truely beleeued, wee may learne to deny al confidence in our ſelues, and all other creatures, and putting our hail traiſt in our allane Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt, may ſtudie to earneſt and vnfenzeit repentance, & amendement of life al our daies, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. To whome with the Father, and the haly Gaiſt, be praiſe & glory, nowe and euer. Amen.
THE DOCTRINE AND teaching before the Examinatioun.
FOr your better inſtruction, well-beloued in Ieſus Chriſt) before I demand any thing of you, I will familiarly ſet down the ſowme of the mater, whereof I minde particularly to examine you: that teaching going alwaies before examination, tho better ye may knaw, what, and how to anſwere. Now, as ye hear at the preaching from time to time, the ſowme and chiefe drift of all our doctrine to be, that all wha wald hauehave reſt to their ſaules, and life eternall, muſt only cum to Chriſt Ieſus, the ſonne of God, and to nane other. Becauſe there is ſaluation in nane vther as the Scripture ſaieth. (For his awin ſelfe (allane) bare our ſinnes in his body on the Trée. Act. 4.12 Iſa. 53.45 63. 3. Pet. 2.24.So it is neidfull that we knaw whereof it comes, that we are ſa ſinfull, that by nature we are ſubiect to condemnation, and whereof our ſaluation in Chriſt commeth, and how we are made partakers thereof: and what is craued of vsus, being aſſured of our ſaluation in Chriſt. And therefore we ſhall bring the ſowme of all whereof we are to ſpeake of, vntounto theſe foure points.
The firſt ſalbe of our miſerable eſtate by nature, and the cauſe therof. The ſecond, of our redemption, & the cauſe thereof. The third, of our aſſurance of this redemption and ſaluation, with the cauſe and meinis therof. And the fourth and laſt, of our duty being ſaued or aſſured of ſaluation.
But before wee proceede farther, ye are to be admoniſhed, that as all this mater belangs to euerye ane of you in particular: ſo this forme of doctrine eſpecially, craueth ſik particular attēdance, of eueryevery ane of you (nane of any eſtate, ſexe, or degree excepted) that ye be ready to anſwere to any queſtion that ſhalbe moued: for it is vncertaine to you what queſtion may be demanded of ony of you. Whairof ſeing heir we hauehave better occaſion to trye your attendance, then at the ordinarie preaching, and generall catechizing before the haill Parochin, euerye Sabboth afternoone: where na ſik ſeuerall demanding is of eueryevery ane: ye are not to miſſe the hearing of ane word that ſalbe ſpoken, but to mark diligently for your inſtruction, the haill diſcourſe and eueryevery part thereof, that the better ye may anſwer by your awin vnderſtanding to eueryevery point, & not vppon the whiſpering and rounding in the eare by others next you, whilk on na waies wee wil permit. For I had rather haif ane ſentence, yea neuer ſo ſmall, ſpoken of your awin vnderſtanding, then ane thouſand ſpoken by ſuggeſtion and tickling of vthers. And as for me, I ſall labor to bee ſo plaine, that the maiſte rude heir may be able to conceaue what ſalbe proponed, gif attendance ſalbe giuen as becommeth. Now then to the firſt.