Bibliotheca catechetica, or, The country curates library being an essay towards providing all the parochial cures of England, endow'd with not above ten pounds per annum : with a study of usefull books of like value : to enable the ministers thereof to catechise the youth, and to instruct the people in all things necessary to salvation / by Thomas Bray ...

THE PREFACE.

HAVING made it my Business, so far to en∣quire into the Real Value of the poorest Paro∣chial Cures of this Kingdom, that I can make a probable Guess, that there are at least 400 Parishes, besides Chapelries, not exceeding Ten, or Fifteen Pound per Annum Maintenance for the Minister. It is hard to say, whether I became most affected with the Unhappiness of the Ministers, or of the People in such Places: For if the former for want of necessary Books must be utterly uncapable to make wise unto Salvation such as are com∣mitted to their Charge, it is undoubtedly of fatal Conse∣quence to the Latter, that the Shepherds of their Souls should be so miserably provided wherewithal to feed their Flock.

And this is the sole Occasion of the following Address to such as are piously dispos'd, especially if they be Rich, and without Children. Such Persons, Providence seems to have design'd to be publick Benefactors to Mankind; and there is none so Noble, so Compendious, so Immediate, and

(in our present Circumstances) a Method of doing good so much wanted, as that of fixing Libraries of necessary Books for such of the Clergy, as cannot possibly Buy them.

I have for some considerable Time applied the bent of my Thoughts this way, and hope I have happily hit upon another Medium, besides the mere Benefactions of pious Persons, whereby to promote it; which I desire may not be interpreted as the Effect of any fond Opinion of my own Performance, since I solemnly, and sincerely declare, it will be indifferent to me by whose Book it may be any ways accomplished; only being Master of my own, by having kept the Copy unalienated, that so I might the better Devote it to Publick Service, I have presum'd hum∣bly to propose, that whatever may be gain'd by the Sale of it, may be apply'd to that Purpose. I am indeed of the Opinion, that if the Authors so please, many other Books which are of Universal Sale, might be Dedicated to Raise a Fund to carry on the like Design: And those Honourable, Reverend, and Worthy Persons, who in my Absence will be pleased to do me the Favour to manage both the Design it self, and the Methods of promoting it, will, I dare say, im∣prove all such Means, as shall be put into their Hands, to the utmost Advantage thereof. And if I shall understand that what is hereafter propos'd, finds a favourable Reception both from the Clergy, and School-Masters, who may rea∣sonably be expected to be friends to any Means that will Raise them Libraries, I have something else of like Nature

sprung up in my Thoughts since the Printing of this Essay, that will considerably advance it.

As to the Catechetical Libraries themselves, I have kept strictly to the subject Matter of Catechetical Doctrine in the Structure of them, except it may be thought, that the Expositions on the Holy Scriptures, and the Ministerial Di∣rectories, and Lives, may be of something more General Con∣cern. But as it is the more immediate Business of a Catechist to understand the Scriptures, which makes it necessary for him to be sufficiently furnish'd with Books for that Pur∣pose, so he must be equally concern'd with any other of the Clergy in the Conduct of his Life and Studies, which will justifie the adding of some few of the Latter Sort of Writers. And of these Catechetical Libraries I have set down three Degrees, proportionably to the Circumstances of three Ranks of the Clergy, who are more immediately con∣cern'd in this Work, and for whose Service they are De∣sign'd.

I. The Lowest, and Last of these Libraries, is that which is first intended, and is such as I wou'd have provi∣ded in all the Parochial Cures, not exceeding Ten, or Fifteen Pound per Anuum. It is generally apprehended that few or none in such Places are able to make any use of Authors in the Learned Languages; which indeed are such contemptuous Thoughts of them, as they do not deserve. I am Personally acquainted with several very worthy, and good Divines in these slender and unhappy Circumstances,

and know many of them to be as great Lovers of Books, and as well able to make use of them, as some of those who think so meanly of them. However to comply with the Sentiments of such, who think otherwise, I dare pro∣mise in the behalf of these my Brethren, that there's none of them, but would be exceeding thankfull to those who will furnish them with our English Authors.

II. The next Class of these Catechetical Libraries, are such as have a Mixture of Authors in the Learned Languages, such as are generally suppos'd to have written most usefully upon all, or any of the Catechetical Points, and those are such as we could wish to see provided in all those Parishes, where Catechetical Lectures are now set∣ting up for the Instruction, especially of the poorer Chil∣dren, whose Parents or Friends are unable to put them to School. There are several such Schools now advancing by the wise Consultations, and Charitable Assistance of several Excellent Persons; and 'tis hop'd such may in time be provided in all the Market-Towns at least in this Kingdom. And as all Schools in Christian Countries, ought to be principally De∣sign'd for the Instruction of Youth in the Principles of Chri∣stianity, so it is piously provided, that the Children belong∣ing to these Schools, should not only be made to learn their Catechism, but should have it expounded to them pub∣lickly once a Week, both for their own and others Edifica∣tion.

Now the most proper Person for the Catechist, I hum∣bly conceive, would be the Curate, Assistant, or Reader in such Parishes, not only because the Rector has a lar∣ger Field of Business to mind, which will not give him al∣ways Leisure to attend every thing, and amongst the Rest, this; but because this Catechising of the Youth, and Ex∣pounding publickly, would most effectually train up the Young Clergy for higher Ministeries in the Church. It is well known that docendo ipse disces, so that hereby the Curate of a Parish would become himself so much a Master in the grand Doctrines of Christianity, that after such a Course of Instruction, he might be more safely trusted with the Superior Conduct in a Cure of his own. And it being very difficult for a Curate, out of the Ordinary Allowance, to furnish himself with a suf∣ficient Number of Necessary Books; it is requisite a Ca∣techetical Library should be part of his Encouragement; and as it would be a good Encouragement, so it would be a great Engagement upon him to Discharge this Trust with Fidelity, and Diligence; and would likewise enable him to do it as a Workman who needs not be asha∣med.

The Third Class of these Catechetical Libraries is only distinguish'd from the former by having double the Quantity of Books upon the same Heads. And I would here propose, that in such Places where the Rector him∣self being not Resident, the Care of Souls is wholly com∣mitted

to a Curate, that for the better Discharge of his Duty, there were one of those Libraries fix'd to the Place. By this Means the Rector might be better se∣cur'd of a Full, and Regular Instruction given to his People; for as such a Sett of Books upon all the Parts of Christian Doctrine, would enable the Assistant to give a full Instruction, so the Scheme, and Order in which they are dispos'd, would direct him to make it Regular, and Methodical.

And indeed, if in all Market-Towns, where Cateche∣tical Schools are likely to be set up, there shall be a Catechetical Library given as an Encouragement; and if in all the Cures where the proper Minister does not Reside, and in such as do not exceed Ten, or Fifteen Pounds per Annum, there were such Libraries fix'd, as are here propos'd; this would be a considerable Advance both towards Lending, and Parochial Libraries throughout the Kingdom, than which I know not a greater good I could wish to our Church.

It is exceedingly well, and seasonably advis'd by our most Reverend Primate in his late Circular Letter to the Bishops, and Clergy of his Province, That while our Enemies are so very industrious in seeking out Objections against the Christian Religion; it be∣comes the Clergy (who are set apart for the Vin∣dication of it) to be no less diligent in their Pre∣parations for its Defence, by acquainting themselves

throughly with the Rational Grounds of Christia∣nity, and the True State of such Points, as are the Subject of our present Controversies, together with the Objections which are usually made by our Ad∣versaries of all Sorts, and the effectual Answers that have been Return'd to them, by so many Eminent Writers of our own Church; that so they may be ready, on all Occasions to do Justice, and Honour to our Holy Religion; and be able to expose the Folly and Ignorance of these Gain-saying Men. The Cause which God has put into our Hands, is un∣doubtedly good; but the best Cause may suffer by the Weakness of its Advocate; and when this hap∣pens in Matters of Religion, it gives the Adversary an Occasion of Triumph, and is apt to stagger the Faith even of sincere, and unprejudic'd Christi∣ans.

Nothing more plain than that in a Reading Age, wherein Books are now daily published to propagate the most Impious Principles, and Pestilent Heresies, there is a Necessity for the Clergy to double their Diligence in their Studies, not only that they may be able to Explain, (which is always necessary) but to Defend all the Doctrines of Christianity, to which Service they are all call'd forth at this Time. And if, when so many Scio∣lists shall so pertly, and arrogantly attacque all the Articles of our most Holy Faith, any of the Clergy, for want of Books, should be dumb or silent on such Occa∣sions,

Religion it self must undoubtedly extreamly suffer. Some Means therefore must be contriv'd, that all tbe Clergy may be furnished with such Materials, as may en∣able them to instruct the People concerning the Faith, and defend them in it from those who would pervert them, and this cannot be done without supplying the Clergy with Parochial, or at leastwise, till so great a good can be accomplish'd, with Deanary, or Lending Libra∣ries.

And now it may be full time to give some Account of what has been already done pursuant to all these Designs, lest I be thought a Meer Projector. This sounds very contemptible with the Wise and Prudent, and the best laid Design in the World then only ceases to be thought a Pro∣ject, when it does actually succeed. And this I thank God our present Design has already done in all its Parts, and in no considerable Degree as to some of them, considering how little it has been yet made known.

In the Isle of Man by the Means here propos'd, there is a Foundation begun of sixteen Catechetical Libra∣ries in the sixteen poor Parochial Cures of that whole Island and Diocess, and no doubt they will in time be fully perfected by the Pious Endeavours, and Application of my most Excellent Friend the Bishop of that See. To∣wards what has been hitherto done for the Raising of these Sixteen, the Right Reverend the Bishops of Sarum, Ely, Chichester, and the Reverend Dr. Wake, &c. did bestow some of their own Books, and the most Reve∣rend

the Arch-Bishop of Dublin advanc'd the Remainder by a Demand of 800 of the Baptismal Covenant, ac∣cording to the Terms propos'd.

In the Mother Catechetical School, viz. at Algate in this City, there is a Library of the Second Class now collecting for the Use of the Catechist, at the Charge of the Impropriator, and some other Benefactors. And in the County of Montgomery, there are four of the like Catechetical Libraries ready to be sent down as a Means to promote Catechising in the four Market-Towns of that County; the which have been Rais'd by the Benefaction of the present Lord Bishop of Worcester, given both to pur∣chase those Libraries, and the Discourses on the Bap∣tismal Covenant. Nor is there a President wanting of one of the larger Libraries given by the Rector of a Pa∣rish, the better to enable his Curate to discharge his Trust, and fix'd for the Service of his Successors after him.

And lastly in the Diocess of Chester there is the Foun∣dation of two Lending Libraries laid by the Discourse on the Baptismal Covenant; the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of that See, the Reverend the Arch-Deacon of Chester, and the Reverend Clergy in the Deanary of Namptwich having sent for 800 of those Books with two Ten Pound Libraries according to Proposals.

And as whatever Quantity of the Discourses on the Baptismal Covenant shall be sent for by any School, or Parish, or by any Pious Person to give a∣way

(be the Number 20, 30, 50, 100, &c.) an Ac∣count shall be kept of the same, and of all the Profit a∣rising from them, in order to dispose all of it to a Farthing, toward purchasing the Lesser Catechetical Libraries; so if any whole Deanary shall join to take off 400 of the said Books, Ten Pound shall be allowed them, to purchase such Books as the Clergy of that Deanary shall agree up∣on, wherewith to lay the Foundation of a Lending Libra∣ry, or to add to the Stock of one already founded.