§. Sect. 6 Examples of the faithfull who haue ca∣techized their family.
Lastly, the examples of the faithfull in all ages, who haue been diligent in the performing of this duty, may perswade vs vnto it. Thus wee reade that Cain and Abel serued God by sacrifices, which they could not haue done, there being then no written Word for their direction, vnlesse they had beene instructed in Gods true Religion by their parents. So Abraham is commended for this duty, from whom God would not hide his secret counsels, because he knew that he would command his children and his houshold after him, that they might keepe the way of the Lord. Thus Salomon was in∣structed by Dauid his father, and by Bathsheba his mother, from his tender youth, to his riper age, as himselfe professeth; I was my fathers sonne, ten∣der and onely beloued in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said vn∣to me, Let thine heart retaine my words: keepe my commandements and liue, &c. And we reade that Iehoash the King was instructed from his tender youth in the knowledge of God, by his good vncle Iehoiada the Priest. So also in the New Testament, this duty was practised; for there were two sorts of Catechumenoi, or such as were catechized; first, such as were adulti, and of ripe age, who were catechized in the principles of Christian Religion before they were baptized; as Theophilus, the Eunuch, Cornelius, and his houshold, Apollos, and many others, whereof these principles were cal∣led the doctrine of Baptismes. And the second sort borne in the Church, who being in the Couenant, were baptized in their infancie, and after that cate∣chized, and then confirmed by the imposition of hands, whereof the prin∣ciples were called the doctrine of the imposition of hands, in the same place; because at their confirmation they first rendred an account of their faith. And thus Paul remembring Timothies vnfained faith, saith, that it dwelt first in his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice, of whom hee maketh honourable mention, because they had instructed him from his youth in the doctrine of it. And therefore, if wee would bee numbred in the Calen∣der of the faithfull, or be made happy in their rewards; let vs follow their example, and as we haue opportunity and conuenient time, let vs cate∣chize and instruct in the principles of Christian Religion, all those that being capeable of knowledge, are committed to our charge.