SECTION VIII. 231 answers into pieces, and explain them in parts, are itt my opinion of the greatest use to young persons. I think that which is said to be written by Dr. Wallis is of this kind ; but they are all too long for children. There aresome persons who have imagined,that in order to render it easy for younger understandings and memories, they should throw their whole exposition into a great number of ques- tions about every thing that relates to the doctrines contained in each answer of the Assembly's Catechism, and that,the child should-have nothing to remember, but only to answer yes or no : but I fear this is of no verygreat use to younger children, unless a reason or a scripture be added. Where the parent or master speaks almost all that it said in his asking the question, and the child has no more to answer than yes or no, it gives but small improvement to the understanding; for since there is but one right and one wrong answer, the child may happen to give the right answer often by guess, without any knowledge what the question means. XIV. Rule. I have often thought that the shortest comment upon that catechism, and most useful for those who learn it by heart, might consist of a mere explication of the words and phrases which are more difficult to be understood, placed under every answer wherein those wordsare used. Such an exposition as this would very little increase the bulk or price of the cate- chism itself as it would also be very favourable and indulgent to the memory of learners. The particular rules proper to be oh- served in such an exposition are these : I. As we suppose the youth that learn it to be twelve or fourteen years old, there will be no need of explaining the more common terms and language used in it, such as, the word of God, law, duty, rule, wisdom, power, &c. for they will be known at that age to all those who have had the advantage of a religious education. 2. There teed be no explication given of those words which .are directly and expressly explained in any of the following an- swers of the catechism, such as creation, providence, Christ's humiliation and exaltation, sacrament, baptism, Lord's supper. 3. As for the words that may be used in different senses, or extend to many and various kinds of things, I think it is not ne- cessary to shew in how many senses they may be taken, or how many things they extend to, but rather to declare briefly what is the sense of them as they stand in that very answer of the cate- chism ; as for instance, the word sacrifice does not always mean an expiation for sin, but sometimes it signifies the offeringof corn, wine, or oil, in a way of thanksgiving; and metaphori- cally it is used for Our Christian duties of praise to God and bounty to the poor; Deb. xiii. 13, 16. But since it is applied
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