The fourth is, to observe both the inclination, and the natural gifts of body and mind that are in the child, and accordingly to bestow it in some honest calling & course of life. Prou. 20. 11. A child is known by his actions, whether his work be pure and right. In the Ecclesiastical history,1 written by Ruffinus, it is recorded, that Alexander Bishop of Alexandria, saw a far off, in a place near to the sea, a company of children playing together, and in their play imitating himself in sundry Ministerial actions. And when he had a while viewed them, he perceived that they examined & baptised one another, according to the solemn order used in y• Congregation: which thing, when he had made some of his Clergy acquainted withal, and taken order that the children should be sent for, and brought before ⟨p. 138⟩him, he demanded of them, what sport they used, and in what manner they played one with another. The children at first, for fear, denied what they had done, yet upon further examination they confessed, that they had made Athanasius (who afterward became Bishop of the place) their Bishop, and that he instructed and baptised sundry of their company. He further asked both Athanasius himself, and those which were said to have been baptised, what questions he asked them, and what answers they gave; and perceiving by their speeches, that they had framed themselves, though in sporting manner, to the Church-proceedings in those actions; upon conference had with his Clergy, he determined, that those which had first been asked, and had given answer fully, according to the form used in that Church, and thereupon baptised, should not be rebaptized. And for Athanasius and the other children, which had done the part of Ministers in their kind, he sent for their parents, and gave them great charge ⟨p. 139⟩that they should be brought up in learning and religion, that so they might in time be fit for the public Ministry. The like course we read to have been taken by the Heathen, for judgement of the inclination and towardness of their children.2 The Athenians made a law, that before children were bestowed in any calling, they should be first brought into a public place, where Instruments belonging to all sorts of trades were laid;
The fourth is, to obserue both the inclination, and the naturall gifts of bodie and mind that are in the child, and accordingly to bestow it in some honest calling & course of life. Prou. 20. 11. A child is knowne by his actions, whether his worke be pure and right. In the Ecclesiasticall historie,1 written by Ruffinus, it is recorded, that Alexander Bishop of Alexandria, saw a far off, in a place neare to the sea, a companie of children playing together, and in their play imitating himselfe in sundrie Ministeriall actions. And whē he had a while viewed them, he perceiued that they examined & baptised one another, according to the solemne order vsed in y• Cōgregation: which thing, whē he had made some of his Clergie acquainted withall, and taken order that the children should be sent for, and brought before ⟨p. 138⟩him, he demanded of them, what sport they vsed, and in what manner they played one with another. The children at first, for feare, denied what they had done, yet vpon further examination they confessed, that they had made Athanasius (who afterward became Bishop of the place) their Bishop, and that hee instructed and baptised sundrie of their companie. He further asked both Athanasius himselfe, and those which were said to haue been baptised, what questions he asked them, and what answeres they gaue; and perceiuing by their speeches, that they had framed themselues, though in sporting maner, to the Church-proceedings in those actions; vpon conference had with his Clergie, hee determined, that those which had first been asked, and had giuen answere fully, according to the forme vsed in that Church, and thereupon baptised, should not be rebaptised. And for Athanasius and the other children, which had done the part of Ministers in their kind, he sent for their parents, and gaue them great charge ⟨p. 139⟩that they should be brought vp in learning and religion, that so they might in time be fit for the publike Ministerie. The like course we reade to haue been taken by the Heathen, for iudgement of the inclination and towardnesse of their children.2 The Athenians made a law, that before children were bestowed in any calling, they should bee first brought into a publike place, where Instruments belonging to all sorts of trades were laid;
- 1Ruffin. Eccles. hist. lib. 1. c. 14.
- 2Nazianz. epist. ad Eudoxam.
