DEDICATION. 201 to you a method whereby children who cannot understand the answers of that catechism, may yet have their tender minds furnished and impressed with the things of God and their salvation betimes, and that they may be better prepared for using that catechism- with greater advantage when they are farther advanced inage and knowledge, and when their minds are better fitted to receive the deeper sense therein contained. 'fies is what a multitude of private Christians have desired, and that not only for the use of their child- ren, but of their servants also, and for the first instruction of any 'of the more igogrant parts of mankind. This is what Manyministers have attempted even since the Assembly's Catechism was written :. This is what I have been often solicited toundertake these twenty years by several ministers and pri- vate Christians : And this, my friends, is the business and designof the little book which I here present you. 'though I wdl not pretend or presume to write catechisms for the world, yet I think I do not extend my studies and cares beyond my proper province, when I take pains to assist you in the instruction of your families. It any other Christian families think proper to make use of these plain forms of instruction, I heartily wish they may find all the desired success. If it should beenquired how I came to set about this work now, after so long solicitations and delays, 1 will tell you freely, that while 1 was writing the Treatise of Education which I promised the world some time ago, I. found this workof catechising came innecessarily as a part of it : And find- ing it grow too large Mr a chapter in that treatise, I separated it from the rest, and have thus prepared it to be published by itself before the other is finished. I believe you will heartily agree to do me so much justice, as net.to impute this work to any principle of ambition, or to suppose that a vain design of glory amongst men has tempted me to frame an A BC for children. I well know that some of my particular friends imagine my time is employed in too mean a service while I write for babes: lownmy obligations to them for their good opinion of any of my other writings : But I content myself with this thought, that nothin t is too mean tor a servant of Christ to engage in, if he can thereby most effectually promote the kingdom of his blessed Master. If the God whom I serve will bless my labours to sow the seeds of religion in the understandings and hearts of children, I shall hope there will arise a fair harvest of the fruits of holiness in the succeeding generation, and some revenueof glory to my Creator and Redeemer, Perhaps it is not proper for me to say, and the world will hardly believe, what pains have been taken in composing these catechisms, especially the first and second of them ; with what care I have endeavoured to select the most easy and necessary parts of religion, in' order to propose them to the memory' of children according to their ages; what laborious diligence has been used to seek out all the plainest and most familiar t'orins of speech, that the great things of God and the mysteries of the gospel might be brought down to the capacities of children. it is not for me tosay howmany hours, and days, and weeks, have beén spent in reviewing and examining every word and expression, that, if possible, nothing might be inserted which might give just occasion of 'offence to pious persons and families, that nothing might be left out which was necessary for children to know in that tender age ; and that no word, phrase, or sentiment, if possible, might beadmitted which could not be brought in some measure within the reach of a child's understanding. I amwell aware that both my younger catechisms will be thought de- fective,.in that ihave not therein warned children more particularly of some sins of which they are in continual danger. Bait I was much afraid to make these early forms of instructions too burthensome and. tedious. Besides, w hatsoe_ver is wanting either of the mention of duties, or of sins relating to G od or man, may be found in the explication of the ten commandments in the Assembly's Catechism, or in my Preservative from the Sins and Follies
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