SECTION VII. 213 by so many famous divines, almost ever since it has been written ? Do they not all declare that children are not able to understand this catechism without an explainer ? And are not all these ex- plications much too long for young children ? What means the breakingof the long connected sentences by some of these jitdi- cious explainers into short pieces, and expounding them piece by piece ? -Does it not plainly shew that they thought many of the answers to reach in length far beyond the stretch of the thinking powers of a child ? Do they not expressly tell the world so in the preface ? One of these divines before-mentioned, prefaces his cate- chism with these words : " When the venerable assembly com- posed this form of instruction, it seems that few of themselves thought it designed or fitted for babes; some answers being so long and so full of great sense, that though they may recite the words, that can ,be of little benefit till they also apprehend the meaning ; for teaching is not thrusting a set of words into the memory, but helping the learner to understand what is said. Hence about that time we had a multitude of lesser catechisms aiming to stoop to the weak ; these are now much forgotten. Some later essays I see to the same purpose, and this I hope may be of ,like use. After this is competently understood, then go on to teach them the Assembly's Shorter Catechism, so as to fix it in their memories and judgments." My heart agrees with this writer, and I would say no more than what he expresses. I can sincerely declare it is far from my design or my wish to exclude this catechism out of religious families ; for if that should once be done, I have much reason to fear in our age there would scarce come a better in the room of it. All that I pre- sume to propose to my friends is, that the assembly's catechism might be put into the hands of youth when they are grown up to twelveor thirteen years of age, or more, and that there might be some shorter and easier forms of instruction provided for Young children to lay the foundation of the knowledge of re- ligion in their tender minds, and to train them up by degrees till they are capable of using the assembly's catechism with un- derstanding and judgment. This method would prepare them to read and learn it with greater profit than ever they would do ifthey learned it by heart in their infancy, without knowing what it means. SECT. VII.The Inconveniences-of teaching Children what they do not understand. $ere some will be ready to say, where is the inconvenience of it if children learn something which they do not understand in their younger years ? When they have learned these hard words and sentences by rote, they may cotne to understand them o 3
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