A64986:13
An Explicatory Catechism
An explicatory catechism: or, An explanation of the assemblies shorter catechism Wherein those principles are enlarged upon especially, which obviate the great and growing errors of Popery; useful for those families that desire to hold fast the form of sound words.
London: printed for Henry Mortlock, 1675
To the reader: To the Christian Reader; especially Heads of Families.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. Even nature it self dictates thus much. The Birds and Beasts of the field, yea the Sea-monsters take care of their young ones. If you do nothing but feed and clothe your Children, you do no more than Heathens, nay than brute beasts. 'Tis said of the Ostrich, Job 39. 16. that she is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: ⟨image 4⟩And what do ignorant Parents less, who are hardened against their own Children who are parts of themselves?
3. Even nature it self dictates thus much. The Birds and Beasts of the field, yea the Sea-monsters take care of their young ones. If you do nothing but feed and cloath your Children, you do no more than Heathens, nay than brute beasts. 'Tis said of the Ostrich, Job 39. 16. that she is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: ⟨image 4⟩And what do ignorant Parents less, who are hardened against their own Children who are parts of themselves?
4. Children have Souls to be saved or damned, therefore some must take care of them, and the soul that sinneth must die. We see Children die as well as Aged persons.1 In Golgatha there are Skulls of all sorts: Yea, do but look into the Register of a Parish, and you shall see as many young as old have died in it. Children may die, and what if they die without knowledge, in their sins? better were it with those Children mentioned, 2 Kings 2. 23, 24. than these, Isa. 27. 11.