N01899:254
India Christiana. A discourse, delivered unto the Commissioners, for the Propagation of the Gospel…
India Christiana. A discourse, delivered unto the Commissioners, for the Propagation of the Gospel among the American Indians : which is accompanied with several instruments relating to the glorious design of propagating our holy religion, in the Eastern as well as the Western, Indies. : An entertainment which they that are waiting for the kingdom of God will receive as good news from a far country. / By Cotton Mather, D.D. and F.R.S.
printed by B. Green, 1721
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
For the Biblical Exercise, we take some whole Book, of the New Testament; wherein we show them, what Parts are in every Chapter; Afterwards we go through' the Parts; and the Catechists themselves fetch out from thence, certain Doctrines joined with some Application of them. But when they come to Declare things, they proceed after this manner. First, they Expound the Matters, and the Context. Then, This being done, they apply to the proper Edification of the Soul, those things that appear to be most Subservient unto it. But by this Method, that which is principally aimed at, is, partly that they may get a more Solid, and a Stable ⟨p. 83⟩Knowledge of the Truth, out of the Sacred Scriptures; and partly that they may get into a greater Ability for Preaching when they shall have Opportunity to Speak any where, yea, anon to propound the Truth of GOD among the Nations.
For the Biblical Exercise, we take some whole Book, of the New Testament; wherein we show them, what Parts are in every Chapter; Afterwards we go thro' the Parts; and the Catechists themselves fetch out from thence, certain Doctrines joyned with some Application of them. But when they come to Declare things, they proceed after this manner. First, they Expound the Matters, and the Context. Then, This being done, they apply to the proper Edification of the Soul, those things that appear to be most Subservient unto it. But by this Method, that which is principally aimed at, is, partly that they may get a more Solid, and a Stable ⟨p. 83⟩Knowledge of the Truth, out of the Sacred Scriptures; and partly that they may get into a greater Ability for Preaching when they shall have Opportunity to Speak any where, yea, anon to propound the Truth of GOD among the Nations.
In the Exegetical Exercise, we hitherto handle only particular Sentences of the Bible; wherein supplying them with an Exposition according to the Rules of Interpretation, we fetch out certain Positions which are to the point in hand; and when we have in some orderly manner opened such a Sentence; they taking Notes hereof in writing, we leave them to their own Meditations. Whence it commonly comes to pass, that the Things which they have thus Meditated by themselves, they recite by Heart on the Lord's day, and offer them as a Sermon for the Public.