A Christian Directory

§. 3. Direct. 1. The knowledge of so much of Theology as is necessary to your own Duty and Salvation, is the first thing which you are to learn (when you have learnt to speak). Children have souls to save; and their Reason is given them to use for their Creators service and their salvation. 1. They can never begin to Learn that too soon which they were made and Redeemed to Learn, and which their whole lives must be employed in practising. And that which absolute Necessity requireth, and without which there is no salvation. 3. And that which must tell a man the only ultimate end which he must intend, in all the moral actions of his life. For the right Intention of our end is antecedent to all right use of means; And till this be done, a man hath not well begun to Live, nor to use his Reason; nor hath he any other work for his Reason, till this be first done. He liveth but in a continual sin, that doth not make God and the public good and his salvation his end. Therefore they that would not have Children begin with Divinity, would have them serve the Devil and the Flesh. God must be our First and Last and All.

§. 3. Direct. 1. The knowledge of so much of Theologie as is necessary to your own Duty and Salvation, is the first thing which you are to learn (when you have learnt to speak). Children have souls to save; and their Reason is given them to use for their Creators service and their salvation. 1. They can never begin to Learn that too soon which they were made and Redeemed to Learn, and which their whole lives must be employed in practising. And that which absolute Necessity requireth, and without which there is no salvation. 3. And that which must tell a man the only ultimate end which he must intend, in all the moral actions of his life. For the right Intention of our end is antecedent to all right use of means; And till this be done, a man hath not well begun to Live, nor to use his Reason; nor hath he any other work for his Reason, till this be first done. He liveth but in a continual sin, that doth not make God and the publick good and his salvation his end. Therefore they that would not have Children begin with Divinity, would have them serve the Devil and the Flesh. God must be our First and Last and All.

§. 4. Not that any exact or full Body or Method of Divinity is to be Learnt so early. But 1. The Baptismal Covenant must be well opened betime, and frequently urged upon their hearts. 2. Therefore the Creed, the Lords Prayer and Decalogue, must be opened to such betime; that is, They must be wisely Catechised. 3. They must be taught the Scripture History, especially Genesis and the Gospel of Christ. 4. They must with the other Scriptures, read the most plain and suitable Books of practical Divines (after named). 5. They must be kept in the company of suitable, wise and exemplary Christians, whose whole conversation will help them to the sense and Love of Holiness; And must be kept strictly from perverting wicked company. 6. They must be frequently, lovingly, familiarly yet seriously, treated with about the state of their own souls, and made to know their need of Christ and of his holy spirit, of Justification and Renovation. 7. They must be trained up in the Practice of Godliness, in Prayer, pious speeches, and obedience to God and man. 8. They must be kept under the most powerful and profitable Ministers of Christ that can be had. 9. They must be much urged to the study of their own hearts; To know themselves; what it is to be a Man, to have Reason, Free-will and an Immortal soul: what it is to be a Child of Lapsed Adam; and an unregenerate unpardoned sinner: what it is to be a Redeemed, and a sanctified, Justified person, and an adopted heir of life eternal. And by close examination to know which of these conditions is their own; To know what is their daily duty; and what their danger and what their Temptations and impediments, and how to escape?