A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.

§. Sect. 3 That it is the dutie of hous∣holders to ca∣techize their family; and of the causes why it is neglected.

Now that wee may thus nurture our familie in Gods feare, and trayne them vp to the performance of all religious and Christian duties, as prayer, singing of Psalmes, reading the Scriptures, holy conferences, and such like, of which wee haue already spoken, there is required first, that we instruct them in the knowledge of God and his will; and secondly, wise gouernement, whereby they may be moued and drawne to put in pra∣ctice, and make an holy vse of all that is taught and learned for the right informing of their liues. Concerning the former, it is the duty of parents and gouernours of familyes, that they instruct and catechize their chil∣dren and seruants in the true knowledge of God, and in the maine prin∣ciples of Christian Religion; which though it be a most necessary and profitable dutie to bee performed of all, yet is it in these dayes exceeding∣ly neglected of the most, as a thing needlesse and not belonging vnto them. Of which neglect, these seeme to bee the chiefe causes; first, the pro∣fanenesse of mens mindes, and contempt of religion, which maketh them thinke this one thing so necessary in Christs iudgement, to bee in theirs of all things most vnnecessary: and that whereas knowledge in all other professions is required in some perfection, some little smattering or a bare shew, is sufficient in the profession of Christianity; which notwith∣standing as farre excelleth them, as the soule the body, or heauen earth. Secondly, An erroneous iudgement, whereby they perswade themselues, that though this knowledge bee necessary for all, yet that the dutie of instructing their familie in it, belongeth not at all vnto them, but vnto the Ministers onely. Thirdly, their ignorance which disableth them vn∣to it, being such as the Apostle complaineth of, who when for the time they ought to be teachers, yet had neede to bee catechized themselues in the first principles of Religion, and to be fed with milke rather then strong meate. Which is accompanied with a carnall shame of bewraying it to their inferiours. Fourthly, A much more impious shame to be noted of those, who are as bad or worse then themselues, for men too precise and forward in things not pertaining vnto them. The last and chiefest cause is worldly-minded∣nesse, whereby men are wholy taken vp with earthly affaires, so as they haue neither leysure nor pleasure to follow spirituall exercises, which so farre preuaileth with many, that they not onely neglect this dutie themselues, but also will not suffer those, who are vnder their charge, to be taught by others. First, because they would not haue them more wise or religious then themselues. Secondly, because they imagine, that they would bee lesse pliable to vniust courses, for the getting of vnlawfull gaine; and that being more intent to Gods seruice, they would become lesse diligent in the seruice of the carthly Mammon. Lastly, because they cannot indure, that any time should be spent in religious duties, as think∣ing all lost, which is not spent in worldly imployments, and consecrated to their earthly Idoll of gaine and profit. Yea this dutie of catechizing is not

only neglected of houshold gouernours, but also of Ministers, not onely such as are either idle or insufficient to teach the people, but likewise of many who are otherwise able and diligent. And that first, because they consider not the profit and necessity of this excellent exercise. Secondly, because they suppose that it is not pleasing and plausible to the people. And lastly, because they thinke it too meane a subiect for their great lear∣ning and eminent gifts. But let such in the feare of God consider, not what they are able to teach, but what the poore people, committed to their charge, are able to learne, and that they must like nurses, giue vnto their children, not the best and strongest meate, but that which they finde by experience the fittest to nourish them. Let them remember Christs charge to feede the tender Lambes, as well as the stronger sheepe; and the A∣postle Pauls practice and example, who chose rather to speake fiue words with vnderstanding, that he might teach others, then ten thousand words in an vnknowne tongue; and fitted his speech vnto those which were babes in Christ, and fed them with milke, and not with stronger meate, be∣cause they were not able to beare it; becomming vnto the weake as weake, that hee might gaine the weake, and all things to all men, that he might by all meanes saue some. Finally, that Salomon himselfe, who excelled in all learning and wisedome, stooped to the capacity of the meanest, and fitted his speech, that not onely the wise in heart might increase in learning, but al∣so that the simple might attaine vnto wisedome.

Notes

• Luke 10. 42.
• Heb. 5. 12.
• Iohn 21. 15.
• 1. Cor. 14. 19.
• 1. Cor. 2. 2, 3.
• Chap. 9. 22.
• Pro. 1. 4, 5.