SECTION. VliJ. 229 name of Jesus and the blessed discoveries of grace, when be finds he is exposed to the just anger of God for his sins, if he does not betake himself to this relief. X. Rule. It may be proper enough in the larger of these catechisms, or thosewhich are composed for a youth of twelve or fourteen years of age, that the whole scheme or method be diffrent from those which are framed for mere infancyor child- hood. So the assembly's catechism is written in a different me- thod from those which I have composed for younger years, though the same religion and the same gospel is exhibited inboth. By such a diversity of methods young persons will see the same truths set in a different light. : And it may be of considerable use, especiallyto those of a brighter genius and better parts, to turn their religion on all sides and learn how beautiful it is in every situation, to observe how happily all parts correspond with one another, and all conspire in the glory of God, the honour of Christ, and the salvation of sinful man. But I think for all the younger catechisms it is much better they should be formed in the very same method, lest while children are so very young and ignorant, variety of methods should embarrass rather than en- lighten them : For this reason I have framed my two first cate- chisms on the very same plan. XI. Rule. In those younger catechisms where the scheme andmethod is much the same, let the questions and answers be expressed in different forms of words, and the manners of en- quiry and reply bear a little different turn, even though the sense may be the very same. This will have two considerable advantages in it,-1. The child will not be ready to intermingle the answers of the younger and elder catechism together; which he would perpetually do if the questions were expressed in the same words, or if the answers begun in thesame forms ofspeech. 2. The child will gain more knowledge of the things of reli- gion and of the language of christianity, by having the same doctrines and duties set before him in different forms of speech, as his age and understanding advances. But if in composing two such catechisms any person should think there may be a ne- cessity of repeating the very saine question in the same words, then let the answer be exactly the same too : and then a child will be under no danger of mistake nor of interminglingone ca- techism with another. XII. Rule. Let there be one or more well-chosen texts of scripture added to support almost every answer, and to prove the several parts of it. This will show thechild that we own the scriptureor word of God to be the divine and supreme rule of our belief and practice, and that this catechism is borrowed from the bible, as the great source and original of our holy religion ; 'this will make hint know betimes that his catechisms are not tO r 3
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