rious Motives, by which the Apostles enforced Gofpel Duties. Are we afraid that Men will make a perverse use of fuch Doctrines, as thefe infpired Teachers used for Motives?

3. I would advise you to preach Sermons on particular, and uncommon Subjects, as they are frequently ftriking, more eafily remembered, than those on common Subjects, and exceedingly ufeful. For Inftance, Sermons on the Death of any of the Parishioners-on the New Year,-on the Spring,-on Harvest, &c.

HINTS on CATECHIZING.

1. AS Catechizing is directed by the fifty

ninth Canon*, to be at the Church before Evening Service, every Sunday (and

not

The RUBRIC at the End of the Church-Catechifm orders, that the Children shall be catechized on Sundays and Holydays after the fecond Leffon in Evening Prayer WHEATLY, in his Illuftration of the Common Prayer, (a Book of Reputation, which has paffed through many Editions) fays Page 393, "How to "reconcile the 59th Canon to this Rubric, I own "I am át a Lofs:"And fo must every one, who compares them together.-The CANON fays, The "Minifter fhall catechize every Sunday, and Holi"day before Evening Prayer:"The RUBRIC only fays "on Sundays and Holidays:" From whence no Obligation can be urged, that Ministers should cate

not in the Time of Service) and as it is of fo great Importance to the rifing Generation, it will be proper to catechize the Children on Sundays, either before, or after Evening Service at the Church, or at the Parfonage-house in the Evening, as best fuits your Conveniency, the Intention of the Canon being anfwered, whether they are catechized before, or after Church;there, or at the Parfonage-house.

2. You would do well occafionally to defire the Parents to be diligent in teaching their young Children the Church-catechifm

chize on all Sundays, and Holidays. The CANON farther injoins, that it be done before Evening Prayer, but the RUBRIC fays" after the fecond Leffon in Evening Prayer. The CANON requires it fhould be continued for Half an Hour, or more:-The RuBAIC leaves it indefinite: Confequently every Minifter is at Liberty (as the Directions are thus inconfiftent) to catechife the Children either before, in, or after the Service of the Church, as beft fuits Himfelf, and his Parishioners. Nay it must in the Nature of Things be left to the Difcretion of the Minifter, for it is impractible to obferve the Direction of cate chizing according to the RUBRIC in fuch Churches, where the Ailes are very much crowded:-And indeed where they are not fo, and the Children are catechized after the second Leffon, too many, I fear, are difgufted at it, inftead of being edified by it, how judicious foever the Minister's Inftructions. So far are fome of them from attending with a laudable Seriouf. nefs to what is faid, that they make the Lengthening of the Service by the cathetical Examination a Pretence for not coming to Church.

chifm, that they may be fit to come under your Inftruction at fix Years old. I doubt not but you will endeavour, as much as in you lies, to make the Exercife of Catechifm laftingly useful to the Children; for, without great Care, hearing them repeat it frequently will become a Work of mere Form, tedious to yourself, and uninteresting to them.

3. The Children now on the Lift to be catechized are between 40 and 50. These you will pleafe to divide into two Claffes. Those from 6 to 10 Years old in the lower Clafs; and thofe from 10 to 16 in the upper-Thofe in the lower Clafs may only repeat the Words, and be asked fuch fhort, and eafy Queftions, as require them to anfwer little more than Yes, or No.-As for Inftance, Do you believe in God? Yes.-, Are there more Gods than one? No.Did your Godfathers and Godmothers promife, that you should renounce the Devil and all his Works? Yes.-Should a Christian do any of the Works of the Devil? No. Thofe in the upper Clafs may be asked the Meaning of the Words, answer luch Questions, as you may think proper

to

See a little Tract intitled, The Church Catechifm broke into fhort Queftions; and the Explanation of fome Words for the cafer Understanding them. Price threehalfpence. This well deferves the Attention of Parents and Minifters for the Ufe of Children.

to propofe, and prove by fuitable Texts of Scripture the Truth of what they repeat.The lower Clafs, by hearing thefe Explanations, and your Inftructions, will be gradually preparing for a Removal into the upper Clafs. You will be careful not to confound the Children by afking them bard Questions, nor terrify them by your Manner of fpeaking. A mild Voice, and a placid Countenance will difpel their Fears, and encourage them to answer you properly; and if any behave amifs, it will be beft to reprove them in private.

4. It will be proper to take a Lift of all, who are to be catechized, call over their Names, before you begin, and mark the abfent, that when I come to refide, I may reprimand those who have been negligent in their Attendance, and encourage the diligent by pecuniary Rewards. Your doing this will oblige me, and it may be done with very little Trouble to your felf, by putting a Mark thus +oppofite to the Names of the Abfenters, as exemplify'd in the following Table.

B 5

A Spe.

Such Proofs are printed in Words at Length in LEWIS'S Catechifm: But if the Children are made to look out thefe in their Bibles, they will be more likely to remember them..

Specimen of the Table, which may be enlarged fo as to contain the Number of Sundays in each Month, and the Names of all the Children you propofe to catechize.

5. To the young People from 16 to 21, (who fhew a Difpofition to Seriousness) proper Books may be lent, given or recommended, that they may not lose what they have gained by your catechetical Inftructions; and it is doubtlefs of fome Importance to inquire occafionally what Improvement they have made by these Advantages.

HINTS