A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

3. You will be sure to act very wisely, very discreetly. You know in Catechizing you have to do with different Sexes, Ages, Tempers, Capacities; some are less capable and more bashful: these must not be exposed to the scorn and contempt of those that have, it may be, more glib tongues and brazen foreheads, but worse hearts. You know when and how to encourage the willing, to praise the forward, to check the presumptuous, to admonish the unruly, patiently to bear with all. You know what it is [Greek or Hebrew] to be Soul Nurses, 1 Thess. 2.7, 8. how to impart with all dearness those Fundamental Truths which make for their spiritual and eternal good and growth: ¹And shall I take leave, in your names, to assure younger ones that you will have a tender eye to the slowness of apprehension in some of them, to the slipperiness of memory in others, to the bashfulness of most, to the reputation of them all: That you will opportunely prevent their grosser mistakes, and candidly palliate their lesser ones; that you will give the best sense to the worst of their Answers, and put some necessary words into their mouths, the better to facilitate the expression of their thoughts; that you will so wisely manage the whole business, as that it may make for their reputation as well as instruction, and that they may find favour both with God and men.

3. You will be sure to act very wisely, very discreetly. You know in Catechizing you have to do with different Sexes, Ages, Tempers, Capacities; some are less capable and more bashful: these must not be expos'd to the scorn and contempt of those that have, it may be, more glib tougues and brazen foreheads, but worse hearts. You know when and how to incourage the willing, to praise the forward, to check the presumptuous, to admonish the unruly, patiently to bear with all. You know what it is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 to be Soul Nurses, 1 Thess. 2.7, 8. how to impart with all dearness those Fundamental Truths which make for their spiritual and eternal good and growth: ¹And shall I take leave, in your names, to assure younger ones that you will have a tender eye to the slowness of apprehension in some of them, to the slipperiness of memory in others, to the bashfulness of most, to the reputation of them all: That you will opportunely prevent their grosser mistakes, and candidly palliate their lesser ones; that you will give the best sense to the worst of their Answers, and put some necessary words into their mouths, the better to facilitate the expression of their thoughts; that you will so wisely manage the whole business, as that it may make for their reputation as well as instruction, and that they may find favour both with God and men.