ON INSTRUCTION BY CATECHISMS. Objection II. But would it not be much better to compose one plain Catechism for all the stages of childhood and youth, and let them learn as much as they could of it at four or five years old, and so go on to learn further at six and se vet), at 'eight and nine and ten, till they have finished the whole Answer. No, by no means : This cannot be so happy and useful a method for the instruction of children ; for them child- ren will never have any knowledge of some of the most impor- tant points in our religion till they are eight or ten years old, or 'more, and are come to the end of their catechism : Whatsoever isplaced in the former part of their, catechism they would indeed he acquainted with in their infancy more largely and more parti- cularly ; but they would know nothing at all of those doctrines whichshould naturally be placed in the middle or end of it, viz. The redemption by Christ, theblessings of thegospel, the future judgment, and heaven and hell, because they have not learned far enough in their catechisms. Thus they would remain too king in ignorance of the peculiar doctrines and duties of the ehristian religion. Whereas if some short and complete cate- chism, be framed for infancy, by this means children in these earlier and shorter forms would learn and remember a whole scheme of the most substantial articles of our religion, both in doctrine and duty. They would attain a general and compre Leusive view of christianity, so much as is sufficient for their practice in their younger years ; especially if assisted but a little by some plain and easy conversation with their parents about these things. This short and general view of christianity will make them better understand the scripture itself whensoever they read any of the chief doctrines of godliness there. They will better ap- prehend the meaning, of sermons which they hear in public; they will more easily take in the particular branches and articles of our holy religion when they come to read them in the larger catechisms ; and it will teach them to judge better in the affairs of religionwhen they have learned the general substance of it in their infancy, contracted into a short easy scheme, and brought within the grasp and survey of their understanding in their earliest yetsrs. Nor can it be objected here, with any colour of reason, that in their second and thirdcatechisms they will be put to learn over again the same things which they have already learned in the first ; for I have shewn, that though the same articles of faith and practice are inserted in the following catechisms, yet this is done in other forms of expression, and with more particular en- largements as to the sense. Thus the child as he proceeds from one catechism to another, will have the advantage of learning the same great truths of christianity more perfectly by the variety
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