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

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.

5. This manner of Teaching by way of Catechising, viz. By propounding the Question, and putting the child to Answer it, as the Echo doth the Voice, is a most ready way to make any Instruction to take. Whence it is that in all Schools of Learning this course is taken, viz. The Teacher propounds his Questions, and requires Answers from those that are instructed: whereas if you speak never so well, or so long, yea the longer the worse, in a set and continued Speech, it useth to vanish in the Air, without any observable notice, or after fruit.