But having once Baptised the Children of his Covenanting Neighbours, he did not as too many Ministers do, think, that he had now done, with them. No, another thing wherein he was very laborious for poor Children was, the Catechising ⟨p. 58⟩of them; he kept up the great Ordinance of Catechising, both publicly & privately, & spent in it a world of time About the end of the S• Century, before there had in the least begun to Start up New Officers in the Church of God, we find there were persons called unto the Office of Public Teaching, who were not Pastors, not Rulers, not called unto the Administration of other Ordinances; those in the Church of Alexandria, were of a special Remark and Renown for their Abilities this way; and their Employment was to Explain and to Defend the principles of the Christian Religion, unto all with whom they could be concerned. Here was the Catechist, with reference unto whom the Apostle says, Let the Catechised communicate unto him in all good things. Now, tho' some think, a Teacher purely as such, hath no Right unto further Church Administrations, any more than the R•bbt's or Doctors among the Jews, had to Offer Sacrifices in the Temple; yet he who is called to be a Teacher, may at the same time also be called to be an Elder, and being now a Teaching Elder, he becomes interested in the whole Government of the Church, he has the power of all Sacred Administrations. 'Tis the latter and more complete and perfect character, which the Churches of New-England have still acknowledged in their Teachers; and such a Teaching […] did our Eliot remember himself to be He thought himself under a particular Obligation to be that Officer, which the Apostle calls if ⟨p. 59⟩Cor. 4. 15. An Instructor of the young; nor was he ashamed, any more than some of the worthiest men among the Ancients were, to be called, A Catechist. He would observe upon Joh. 21. 15. That, the care of the Lambs, is one third part of the charge over the Church of God. It would be incredible if I should relate what pains he took to keep up the blessed Echo's of Truth, between himself, and the young people of his Congregation; and what prudence he used, in suiting of his Catechisms to the age and strength of his little Catechumens. But one thing I must observe, which is, That although' there may be, (as one has computed) no less than five hundred Catechisms extant, yet Mr.
But having once Baptised the Children of his Covenanting Neighbours, he did not as too many Ministers do, think, that he had now done, with them. No, another thing wherein he was very laborious for poor Children was, the Catechising ⟨p. 58⟩of them; he kept up the great Ordinance of Catechising, both publickly & privately, & spent in it a world of time About the end of the S• Century, before there had in the least begun to Start up New Officers in the Church of God, we find there were persons called unto the Office of Publick Teaching, who were not Pastors, not Rulers, not called unto the Administration of other Ordinances; those in the Church of Alexandria, were of a special Remark and Renown for their Abilities this way; and their Employment was to Explain and to Defend the principles of the Christian Religion, unto all with whom they could be concerned. Here was the Catechist, with reference unto whom the Apostle says, Let the Catechised communicate unto him in all good things. Now, tho' some think, a Teacher purely as such, hath no Right unto further Church Administrations, any more than the R•bbt's or Doctors among the Jews, had to Offer Sacrifices in the Temple; yet he who is called to be a Teacher, may at the same time also be called to be an Elder, and being now a Teaching Elder, he becomes interested in the whole Government of the Church, he has the power of all Sacred Administrations. 'Tis the latter and more compleat and perfect character, which the Churches of New-England have still acknowledged in their Teachers; and such a Teaching 〈…〉 did our Eliot remember himself to be He thought himself under a particular Obligation to be that Officer, which the Apostle calls if ⟨p. 59⟩Cor. 4. 15. An Instructor of the young; nor was he ashamed, any more than some of the worthiest men among the Ancients were, to be called, A Catechist. He would observe upon Joh. 21. 15. That, the care of the Lambs, is one third part of the charge over the Church of God. It would be incredible if I should relate what pains he took to keep up the blessed Ec•ho's of Truth, between himself, and the young people of his Congregation; and what prudence he used, in suiting of his Catechisms to the age and strength of his little Catechumens. But one thing I must observe, which is, That altho' there may be, (as one has computed) no less than five hundred Catechisms extant, yet Mr.
