Chapter 1: Of Catechizing

Quest. What is Catechizing?

Ans. An instructing of the people in the grounds, or principles, or fundamental points of religion.

Q. How are these catechetical, and fundamental points called in the holy Scripture?

A. They are called the foundation, the first principles of the Oracles of God, the beginning of the doctrine of Christ, the entrance into God's word, milk for babes, and the form of wholesome words.

Q. How may the warrantableness of this kind of teaching appear?

A. Both by express testimony of Scripture, and because catechizing is nothing else but the drawing of the doctrine of religion into brief sums; and this has plentiful warrant in the word.

Q. What need is there of this kind of teaching?

A. The doctrine of catechism being milk for babes, and the laying of the foundation, there cannot but be great need thereof; for all men know the foundation must be laid before there can be any building; and babes must have milk before they be fed with stronger meat.

Q. What is the benefit of catechizing?

A. It is a means of well grounded knowledge, and of profiting by sermons; the want whereof being a hindrance that men cannot profit by other higher points of doctrine.

Q. What else may be the benefit thereof?

A. It is a means to prevent apostasy and the infection of error, which they that are ignorant and unstable are apt to be seduced withal.

Q. Do you then think that the doctrine of catechism is wholesome and useful to the souls of God's people?

A. As common and ordinary meats are most wholesome to the body, more than curious and dainty dishes: so the doctrine of catechism is specially wholesome to the soul, and therefore is expressly called the form of wholesome words.

Q. How should the doctrine of catechism be handled?

A. Briefly, many things being contracted into narrow sums, for the helping of memory, and yet plainly, as may be for the understanding of the simple.

Q. What are we to think of that usual way of catechizing by questions and answers?

A. This way of teaching has plentiful warrant in the Scriptures, and is suitable to the notation, and signification of the word catechizing, which is taken from that return or answer which is given in an echo.

Q. Who are to be catechized?

A. All that have need thereof, as being not well instructed in these points; and therefore little children are to be catechized as soon as they shall be able to learn, and others also that are ignorant or children in understanding.

Q. But is it not a shame for persons of years to be catechized?

A. It is a shame, and justly reprovable as a sin, when persons grown to years are so ignorant as to have need to be catechized (Hebrews 5:12, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:34).

Q. But how if they be not willing to be catechized?

A. It is much more a sin and shame, if being ignorant they refuse to have their ignorance helped by being instructed (Psalm 58:5; Proverbs 17:22; Proverbs 13:18; Proverbs 15:32).

Q. But is it not indeed a reproach and shame to a man to be catechized?

A. It is so far from being a shame, that indeed it is the duty of all to be willing to learn, and therefore not a shame to any; but the commendation of every one that is so willing.