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

3. The Primitive Fathers, that trod on the Heels of the Apostles, and were most likely to be best acquainted with the Apostles practice, highly esteemed this way of teaching, and constantly used it. Cyprian, saith Optatus, used it at Carthage, Origen at Alexandria: Hence Clemens Alexander his paedagogus. Cyril Mystagog. Lactantius his Institutions. Athanasius his Synopsis. Augustine his Enchirid. Liber de Doct. Christianâ & de Catechiz. rudibus. Fulgentius de fide.

4. Many of the Ancient Councils made Decrees and Canons for Catechising. Concil Neocaes. Can. 6.7. Concil Tolet. Can. 24. In this consent all the Reformed Churches uno ore. Nay, which is more, the Papists themselves that were assembled in the Council of Trent (observing that in the later Spring of the Gospel, the use of Catechizing in the Reformed Churches was one of the special means of with-drawing People from the darkness of Popery to the light of the Gospel, and of so firmly grounding professors in the true Religion, as nothing could with-draw them from the same; and so the Heretics, as they were pleased to stile them, had got much ground) strongly moved the Council, that there might be a Catechism compiled of the Principles of the Romish Religion, as that that was most likely to give check to that deluge of Heresy, which through the Heretics Catechising was breaking in upon them.

4. Many of the Antient Councils made Decrees and Canons for Catechising. Concil Neocaes. Can. 6.7. Concil Tolet. Can. 24. In this consent all the Reformed Churches uno ore. Nay, which is more, the Papists themselves that were assembled in the Council of Trent (observing that in the later Spring of the Gospel, the use of Catechizing in the Reformed Churches was one of the special means of with-drawing People from the darkness of Popery to the light of the Gospel, and of so firmly grounding professors in the true Religion, as nothing could with-draw them from the same; and so the Hereticks, as they were pleased to stile them, had got much ground) strongly moved the Councel, that there might be a Catechism compiled of the Principles of the Romish Religion, as that that was most likely to give check to that deluge of Heresie, which through the Hereticks Catechising was breaking in upon them.