AN EPISTLE

TO THE

READER.

THAT Popish axiom is long fince exploded, that ignorance is the mother of devotion. The world doth now fee, that without knowledge the mind is not good. And look, as no knowledge is o neceffary, as that of the grounds and principles of the Chriftian religion; fo no way is fo apt to convey it to the minds of men, as that which is called catechiftical. More knowledge is ordinarily diffufed, especially among the ignorant and younger fort, by ne hour's catechiftical exercife, than by many hours continued difcourfes. This way helps the understanding, while it provokes the attention; many elaborate fermons being loft, through the inadvertency of the hearers. Thus not only ignorance is cured, but error alfo is prevented; too many being misguided, becaufe they were not at first well grounded in the principles of the doctrine of Chrift. For fuch reafons as thefe, we highly approve the labors of this reverend brother, in his Explanation of the Affembly's Shorter Catechifm. And having, to our great fatisfaction, perufed it ourselves, in whole or in part, do readily recommend it unto others: for though he compofed it at firft for his own particular congregation, yet we judge it may be greatly useful to all Chriftians in general, efpecially to private families. The manner of using it in families, must be left to the difcretion of the mafters and governors refpectively: though yet we concur with the author, and think it advisable (as he hints in one of his epiftles) that, after a question in the catechism is propounded, and an anfwer without book returned by one of the family, the fame perfon, or fome other, be called upon to read (if not to rebearfe) the explanation of it, the rest reading along with him in feveral books by which means, their thoughts (which are apt to wander) will be the more intent upon what they are about.

AN EPISTLE

TO THE

READER.

THAT Popish axiom is long fince exploded, that ignorance is he mother of devotion. The world doth now fee, that without knowledge the mind is not good. And look, as no knowledge is o neceffary, as that of the grounds and principles of the Chriftian religion; fo no way is fo apt to convey it to the minds of men, as that which is called catechiftical. More knowledge is ordinaily diffufed, efpecially among the ignorant and younger fort, by me hour's catechiftical exercife, than by many hours continued difcourfes. This way helps the understanding, while it provokes the attention; many elaborate fermons being loft, through the inadvertency of the hearers. Thus not only ignorance is curd, but error alfo is prevented; too many being misguided, betaufe they were not at first well grounded in the principles of the doctrine of Chrift. For fuch reafons as thefe, we highly approve the labors of this reverend brother, in his Explanation of the Af(embly's Shorter Catechifm. And having, to our great fatisfaction, perufed it ourselves, in whole or in part, do readily recommend it unto others: for though he compofed it at firft for his own particular congregation, yet we judge it may be greatly useful to all Chriftians in general, especially to private families. The manner of using it in families, must be left to the difcretion of the mafters and governors refpectively: though yet we concur with the author, and think it advisable (as he hints in one of his epiftles) that, after a queftion in the catechifm is propounded, and an anfwer without book returned by one of the family, the fame perfon, or fome other, be called upon to read (if not to rehearfe) the explanation of it, the reft reading along with him in feveral books by which means, their thoughts (which are apt to wander) will be the more intent upon what they are about.

Vincent

Transfer 6.

ity School

ANDOVER-ARVARD

THEOLOGICAL LIBRAN
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.

H46,881

2139
53