PREFACE TO " THE HISTORICAL 'CATECHISM." AFTER the short catechismofscriptural names hasbeen perfectlylearned by heart, thehistorical catechism comes next to be proposed for the instruc- tionof the younger parts of a family in the things recorded in the bible. Here I have collected together, in as brief a manner as I could, some of the more important transactions which are related in scripture, and which are most proper to be known by children. 1 have endeavoured to make some connexion of all the parts of this sacred history from one end of it to the other, that the former answers, as far as possible, might lay some foundation for the followingquestions. This method of composure, if it could be every whereobserved, would draw on the enquiries in so natural and' entertaininga manner as to invite the native curiosity of young persons to read and remem- ber the answer, and at the same time would give much more easeand delight both to the teacherand learner. But let it be observed, that though some children may learn this histo- rical catechism by ten or twelve years of age in so easy amanner, yet I do not propose it to be learned by all before they begin the Assembly'sCate- chism: And therefore 1 call it a catechism for children and youth, supposing that many maynot have fully committed it to memory till they are fourteen years old. Though I have shortened it several times, and struck out many useful parts of this sacred history with some regret, yet I confess I could still wish it shorter : and if any persons think their children will be detained too long, in the affairs of the Old-Testament, before they came to the history of Christ in the New, which is of much more importance, I would propose that they might learn the history of the New Testament first: or that they might learn two or three questions every week in each part of the catechism, that is, both of the Old Testament and the New, and so carry both on together. But I hope upon experience that children will find it so entertaining, that they will get through it with ease and pleasure. But after all the pains taken to render these catechisms of scripture- history so complete as I could wish, I found it was impossible tocontract it into so short a compass as wouldbe fit for all children without the utter omis- sion of many useful things and too slight a mention of others. What could not be done here, I have in some measure endeavoured to supply not only by a more complete summary of the history of the bible, which is not yet printed*, but I have drawn up here a larger catalogue of scriptural words and names, which contains many more names in it than both these short catechisms together; and I have placed it at the end of these catechisms for the use of those children, who have better capacities or better memories, or who have greater advantages and opportunities for knowledge than others have. In the historical catechism I have mentionedthe chapterand verse where these scriptural stories are recorded ; and when the children have learned the names and order of the booksof the bible, and knowhow to find any text in it by the number of the chapter and verse, they should be employed to search * This Lath been published, entitled, a Short View of the whole scrip- ture History. T 3
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