The Christian's manual in three parts ... / by L. Addison ...

CHAP. XIII. The Benefits of Catechizing, 1. In respect of the Civil State. 2. The Clergy. 3. The People. The Mischiefs of private Schools. Objections against the constant practice of Catechizing removed.

BUt besides what has been discoursed, there are other good Effects of Ca∣techising, which at least may be as so many motives to enforce its practice.

And in the first place, Catechising is in an eminent manner conducive to the Peace and Welfare of the State; because it takes care that the Younger sort, who are the hopes of a Nation, be duly edu∣cated

in those Principles, on whose pra∣ctice the safety and happiness of a State depends. For to sowe in the pure minds of Youth the Seeds of Vertue and Truth, before the Tares of Vice and Error, and the Weeds of the World, have canker'd and spoiled the Soil, is by the consent of all wise men, a point of incompa∣rable force and moment for the well or∣dering and Government of all kind of Societies, and for making Common∣wealths ever flourishing and happy. For by the means of Catechising, the Younger sort will be planted and grow up in a due Conformity and Obedience to the Laws in being; which is undeni∣ably a proper expedient to uphold States in the Terms wherein they are, and to free them from the danger of being so easily obvious to alteration and change. For the Opinions, of what nature soe∣ver, wherewith we are first season'd, are of double force to any second Perswa∣sion and Usages. And this makes the Spanish Nation early and careful in Ca∣techising their Children; by which Me∣thod (ever since its use) they have not suffer'd the least disturbance and alteration in Church or State. That serious people having largely experienced the Truth of their own saying: No es menos impor∣tante

el ser de la Doctrina que el de la Na∣turaleza. And in confirmation of this remark, it were easie to load the Margin with a numerous Quotation, and the Line with a tedious recital of many ex∣cellent Passages out of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Seneca, Tacitus, Agell, and al∣most all the learned Heathen: Plutarch's Education of Children doth abridge them all. But we need not go sharpen our Tools with the Philistines, seeing an Israelite can do it better. For Solomon is plain, That the way to have Men Re∣ligious and Honest; to be peaceable both in Church and State; is from their Childhood to train them up (the Mar∣gin) to Catechize them, in the Duties that they owe unto both, Prov. 22.6. And the Ecclesiastick and Politick Pa∣rents, as well as the Natural, will find great safety in observing the wise advice of Ben Sirach. Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat on the sides while he is a child; lest he wax stubborn, and dis∣obedient, and so bring sorrow to thine heart. Ecclus. 30.12. But there needs hereof neither illustration nor enlarge∣ment. And therefore we shall close this Period with that excellent Spaniard, Son los afetos en la Ninez como el Veneno, &c. Vices in Youth are as poyson, which

if it once take seisure of the Heart, the paleness it introduceth no Physick can remove. Saavedra, Idea de un prin. pol. Christ. p. 8.

Obedience, by a Catholick agree∣ment, is the Crown and Pillar, the Glory and Strength of all Government. But this Obedience can never be firm and durable, if it be not founded in Conscience. For according to the in∣formation of this, we shall find the ex∣presses of the other. And notwithstand∣ing that unparallel'd Villanies have been every where acted under the pre••ence of Conscience, yet this is so far from ma∣king it reasonable to neglect and de∣ride Conscience, that it should engage us by all good means to have it so regulated and instructed, that it may be no less serviceable to Peace and Union than it hath been (the pretence) to carry on Dissention and Schism. And we need not doubt but a right Conscience will as powerfully oblige to Peace, as an erroneous instigate to Sedition: And that if Men were once fully Catechised in the Duties of the Second Table, they would no longer be able to resist the Ecclesiastick or Secu∣lar Power under the Banner of Con∣science.

In the second place, an Unanimous use of Catechising the People in the same things, will not a little redound to the credit of the Clergy. For by this means they will testifie to the World their Har∣mony and Consent: That they all teach the same things; and are not, as for lack hereof some imagine, like the Natura∣lists two-headed Serpent, pulling con∣trary ways, but all looking on the same Objects as the Seraphims on the Mercy-Seat.

And doubtless one end of a Church-Catechism was to preserve an Uniform procedure in teaching the Common grounds of Religion. It being requisite and convenient, that they who profess but one God, one Christ, one Baptism, and one Gospel, should consent and be trained up in one Catechism. The in∣convenience arising from the use of di∣vers, being observed by Pope Clemens the Eighth, caused him to have a Catechism compiled, which, exclusive of all others, should be taught in all those Countries that call themselves Catholick. Ut sub∣latâ modorum docendi varietate, uniforme, facilius{que} instruendi idiotas & simplices de rebus fidei exercitium reddatur; saith the Congregatio Reformationis, which revised and approved it,

And in the Geneva Liturgy, we find their Pastors limited not only to the same Catechism, but also to how much there∣of they shall teach every Lords day, with∣out any interpolations of their own. A thing which ought carefully to be pro∣vided for in our own Church: For if the Clergy be either left to a liberty of using divers Catechisms, or to use the Churches as they please; and under a pretence of the legal Instruction, take a more secure occasion to instil into the minds of the unwary people their own Opinions and Fancies, they may most maliciously deceive the intention of the Church, and for feeding, poyson their Congregations. They will prove false to their trust, and most perniciously con∣tradict the name they bear. For the Cler∣gy are Catechists in the most important sense of their Office, and are bound by that Title not to sound their own words, but to eccho and repeat what the Church has spoken; not only the Words and Syllables, but the sense and meaning.

But if the Clergy were never so una∣nimous and diligent both in the inter∣pretation and practice of the Catechism, the benefit thereof will not be so visible, while there are those who unteach in private what is taught at Church. Which

is the undermining practice of many of those Petite Schools, wherewith the Na∣tion is surcharged and abused. The most whereof being subservient to no better end than to give the Youth an ill season∣ing as well in the Rudiments of Religion as Grammar. And albeit the redressing of this mischief has been piously recom∣mended by the Sovereign Head of this Church, to Persons proper for that pur∣pose; yet it is to be feared that the issue will be rather an Encrease of Licenses, than any Abatement of undue School-Teach∣ers, contrary to the 77 and 79. Canons.

Till Israel wanted Smiths of their own, they never went to the Philistins to sharpen their Mattocks. It seems no less a want of Policy than Affection in the Church, while her own Breasts are full to suffer her Children to suck such Nur∣ses, as with their Milk will infuse Diso∣bedience against her.

The Jesuites usually say, That they never doubt to replant their Religion, where they have once planted a Col∣ledge; because this being obtained, they will have opportunity to instruct the Youth (which is an employment they every where labour to engross to their Society) whereby they fear not but in time to eat out the Fathers Principles with

those they shall instil into the Son. And the present state of Affairs will easily turn this into no unseasonable Allusion.

But in the last place, the unanimous u∣sage of the same Church-Catechism, and the modd'ling, ordering, and directing all publick Instructions according to this Form of Sound Words, will bring no less safety to the People, than Honour to the Clergy. For by this means the peo∣ple will be delivered from the fear and peril of hearing contrary Doctrines, and consequently be edified and built up in such an Uniformity both of Belief and Manners, as may at once secure as well their Conversations as Judgments from Ungodliness and Error; which yields a fair probability of closing our present breaches, and preventing future.

And now seeing that the welfare of the State, the credit of the Clergy, and safety of the People do greatly impor∣tune and sollicite the practice of Catechi∣sing; there is nothing on the Clergies part that can retard it, but what I should be loath to name or imagine. But if it be said in behalf of the Laity, That Ca∣techising being a constant repetition of the same thing, will so cloy the people, that they will grow weary of Gods House; to which we see them suffici∣ently

backward, even when they are there entertained with variety: Then I shall only wish all those of the Holy Fun∣ction maturely to consider,

1. How low they have sunk in their esteem with the people, since their Of∣fice was so much devoted to please their humours.

2. That they ought not so much to re∣spect the Peoples Fancies, as proficiency in Religion; the informing of their judg∣ments, and directing their Consciences, and not the humouring of their caprices, ought to be their chief aim and travel.

3. That they cannot deserve the Name of Guides, who are ruled by those whom they should rule: the issue whereof will be no better than that of the blind lead∣ing, &c.

4. That if Catechising be a way of Instruction, which will best preserve the Unity and Peace of the Church, and most solidly and securely advance the edification of the people; then there is no need to be sollicitous for any other ends or interests.

5. And as for the constant repetition and audience of the same Truths neces∣sary to Salvation (as they are the Con∣tents of the Church-Catechism) it may be justified by that old saying [Nunquam

satis docetur, quod nunquam satis discitur;] Those Lessons can never be too much taught, which can never be too much learned. For repetition in this case is to make the Catechism, what indeed it is, the Words of the Wise fastned like Nails by the Masters of Assemblies. And though in all the blows of the Hammer the act be the same, yet there is no stroke superfluous, while every one tends to compleat the Work. We may bring the same quarrel against reading Books, and hearing Sermons: for they are but old matter in new words; and if stript of Dress and Disguise, they would easily be discerned to be but so many varied repe∣titions. In Religion, if any thing be pretended to be new, we may safely con∣clude it is false.

6. But to evacuate the whole Objecti∣on, a diligent Catechist will find enough in the Church-Catechism to entertain his Congregation with variety, and to de∣light and profit all but itching Ears. For it wants nothing that is requisite to de∣fend us in our Journey, or to save us when come to our long home. And those who are therein duely instructed, will find themselves so sufficiently guarded, that no Machinations of Heresie or Schism will be able to batter or undermine

them. Indeed the diligent use of Ca∣techising will be its best Vindication, and most effectually answer all Objections a∣gainst it. And without all Controver∣sie, there was never a greater necessity of enforcing what we now treat of, than the conjuncture wherein we live. For we see Satan is let loose, and lays hard at the Souls of Christians; not only by such Opinions as disturb our Peace, but would utterly destroy our Christianity. Insomuch that we have great need to speak to every one, as that famous An∣chorite to his Pillars upon the approach of an Earth-quake, Stand fast, for ye shall be shaken: And stand fast we cannot, if we want a sure Foundation in Religion; and this cannot be expected, where it is not laid in a full and timely Cate∣chising.