Imatges de pàgina
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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 lo necessary, 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 hat which is called catechiftical. More knowledge is ordinaily diffufed, efpecially among the ignorant and younger fort, by one 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 Af fembly's Shorter Catechifm. And having, to our great fatisfaction, perufed it ourfelves, in whole or in part, do readily recommend it unto others: for though he compofed it at first for his own particular congregation, yet we judge it may be greatly ufeful 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 question 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 rebearfe) 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.

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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 !nowledge the mind is not good. And look, as no knowledge is o neceffary, as that of the grounds and principles of the Chriftian eligion; fo no way is fo apt to convey it to the minds of men, as hat which is called catechiftical. More knowledge is ordinaily diffufed, especially among the ignorant and younger fort, by ne hour's catechiftical exercife, than by many hours continued ifcourfes. This way helps the understanding, while it prookes the attention; many elaborate fermons being loft, through he inadvertency of the hearers. Thus not only ignorance is curd, but error alfo is prevented; too many being misguided, beaufe they were not at first well grounded in the principles of the octrine of Chrift. For fuch reafons as thefe, we highly approve be labors of this reverend brother, in his Explanation of the Afmbly's Shorter Catechifm. And having, to our great fatisaction, perused it ourselves, in whole or in part, do readily reommend it unto others: for though he composed it at firft for his wn particular congregation, yet we judge it may be greatly useil to all Chriftians in general, especially to private families. The manner of using it in families, must be left to the difcretion f the mafters and governors refpectively though yet we concur vih the author, and think it advisable (as he hints in one of is epiftles) that, after a queftion in the catechifm is propounded, nd an answer without book returned by one of the family, the me perfon, or fome other, be called upon to read (if not to reearfe) the explanation of it, the reft reading along with him in veral books by which means, their thoughts (which are apt wander) will be the more intent upon what they are about,

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