the first instance from what is written in the text, " In the
270 ON CATECHISING. [CITAP. III.
CuAP. III.—Of the full narration to be employed in catechising.
5. The naiTation is full when each person is catechised in the first instance from what is written in the text, " In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth," ^ on to the present times of the Church. This does not imply, however, either that we ought to repeat by memory the entije Pentateuch, and the entire Books of Judges, and Kings, and Esdras,^ and the entire Gospel and Acts of the Apostles, if we have learned all these word for word ; or that we should put all the matters which are contained in these volumes into our own words, and in that manner unfold and expound them as a whole. For neither does the time admit of that, nor does any necessity demand it. But what we ought to do is, to give a comprehensive statement of all things, summarily and generally, so that certain of the more wonderful facts may be selected which are listened to with superior gratification, and which have been ranked so remarkably among the exact turning-points (of the history) f that, instead of exhibiting them to view only in their wrappings, if we may so speak, and then instantly snatching them from our siglit, we ought to dwell on them for a certain space, and thus, as it were, unfold them and open them out to vision, and present them to the minds of the hearers as things to be examined and admired. But as for all other details, these sliould be passed over rapidly, and thus far introduced and woven into the narrative. The effect of pursuing this plan is, that the particular facts wliich we wish to see specially commended to attention obtain greater prominence in consequence of the others being made to yield to them ; while, at the same time, neither does the learner, whose interest we are anxious to stimulate by our statement, come to these subjects witli a miiul already exhausted, nor is confusion induced upon the memory of tlie person whom we ought to be instructing by our teaching.
6. In all things, indeed, not only ought our own eye to be kept fixed uj)on tlie end of the commandment, whicli is
" charity, out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and faith
Gen. i. 1. ' In the Mss. we also fiml the reading EzrcF = Ezra.
In ipsiJi articulis^ *' amoi)'^ tlie very articles," or ** connecting link.s." Kefercnce is made to certain great epoclis or articles of time in sections 6 and 39.