A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

§. Sect. 3 That it is the duty of householders to catechize their family; and of the causes why it is neglected.

§. Sect. 3 That it is the dutie of housholders to catechize their family; and of the causes why it is neglected.

Now that we may thus nurture our family in Gods fear, and train them up to the performance of all religious and Christian duties, as prayer, singing of Psalms, reading the Scriptures, holy conferences, and such like, of which we have already spoken, there is required first, that we instruct them in the knowledge of God and his will; and secondly, wise government, whereby they may be moved and drawn to put in practice, and make an holy use of all that is taught and learned for the right informing of their lives. Concerning the former, it is the duty of parents and governors of families, that they instruct and catechize their children and servants in the true knowledge of God, and in the main principles of Christian Religion; which though it be a most necessary and profitable duty to be performed of all, yet is it in these days exceedingly neglected of the most, as a thing needless and not belonging unto them. Of which neglect, these seem to be the chief causes; first, the profaneness of mens minds, and contempt of religion, which maketh them think this one thing so necessary in Christs judgement, to be in theirs ¹of all things most unnecessary: and that whereas knowledge in all other professions is required in some perfection, some little smattering or a bare show, is sufficient in the profession of Christianity; which notwithstanding as far excelleth them, as the soul the body, or heaven earth. Secondly, An erroneous judgement, whereby they persuade themselves, that though this knowledge be necessary for all, yet that the duty of instructing their family in it, belongeth not at all unto them, but unto the Ministers only. Thirdly, their ignorance which disableth them unto it, being such as the Apostle complaineth of, who when for the time ²they ought to be teachers, yet had need to be catechized themselves in the first principles of Religion, and to be fed with milk rather then strong meat. Which is accompanied with a carnal shame of bewraying it to their inferiors. Fourthly, A much more impious shame to be noted of those, who are as bad or worse then themselves, for men too precise and forward in things not pertaining unto them.