230 ON INSTRUCTION BY CATECHISMS. be put in the room and place of the bible. And the words of men may be capable of mistakes, but the scripture is the only infallible and certain rule of revealed truth and christian know- ledge. It will also have another good effect, and that is, it will by degrees lead the child into the understanding and remem- brance of some of the most useful texts of scripture on which the chief articles of christianity are founded, and furnish his tender mind with the rich treasure of the word of God. Yet in the very youngest catechismperhaps little children would find this addition of scripture toe tiresome and tedious, not would it be of any considerable use till they are old enough to compare the answers in the catechism with the words and sense of scrip- ture, and to observe how one corresponds with the other ; there- fore I have etnitted the scriptural proofs of the first catechism, though I have with diligence and care collected and added them to the second : and in the Assembly'scatechism, which is a cate- chism for youth, this is done largely in some editions of it. XIII. Rtlle. When a catechism is framed for youth of twelve years old or upwards, there is no necessity that the terms and phrases which are used in it should be so plain and familiar as in those which are composed for children ; and indeed it is better that the terms and language of scripture, such as ,justifi- ration, adoption, sanctification, &c. should be made use of here, partly because it may be supposed that these children may have acquired some notions of these things at this age by their religious e<hw-tion, and partly because it is necessary that by this time they should emu: to read the scriptures wherein these terms are used, with a greater degree of understanding ; it is fit there :ere that this sort of language, in which it bath pleased God to reVeal divine things to men, should -be made more familiar to them while they arc growing up to manly age. This rule is observed in a good degree in the Assembly's Shorter Ca- techism, which 1 have here inserted in its order for the instruc- tion of youth. Yet is certain that in far the greatest number of christiaa families there is not care enough, or there is not skill enough in the parents or masters to explain these terms, and lead their children or servants into clear and easy ideas of divine things, as they are delivered to us in many words and phrases of scripture, or in the language of this comprehensive catechism ; and it is for this reason that so many learned,men have spent their time in writing expositions'Hpon it. But it must be observed, that most of these expositions, instead of explaining the words used in the Assembly's' Catechism, have enlarged upon the doctrines and duties of' our holy religion, to give a more full and extensiveview of all the parts and branches that belong it; among which Mr. Flavel's work is one of the best. 'Thosewho break the long
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