stance of the Mosaic Law, and formed a summary of the Jewish religion. Before this, all offences that he might have committed were imputable to his father; but from this period he himself was held responsible for his own conduct, and answerable for his sins*. This catechetical examination some have supposed our Saviour underwent in the temple, when he was only twelve years of age, ingenuity, according to the Rabbinical proverb, outrunning the command +.

In the primitive age, children born of Christian parents, were commonly baptized in their infancy, and admitted into the catechetical schools, as soon as they were capable of learning the first rudiments of Christianity. The catechetical school was a building adjoining, and belonging to the Church; but its site is not determined with precision by any ancient writer. AMBROSE at Milan, catechised in the baptistery. The Catechist, who might be of either the highest or lowest order of the Clergy, or even a Layman, never taught the Catechumens in the Church, but in the school of the Church, in some apartment appropriated to the purpose. The instruction given in these schools, was not confined to sacred subjects only: In many of them grammar, rhetoric, and other sciences were likewise taught.

* Between this usage and our rite of Confirmation we discover an analogy,

+ GROTIUS and others.

See BINGHAM on Catechists, Catechisms, and Catechetical Schools, with the writers to whom he refers.

Of

Of this description was the famous school of Alexandria, in which JEROM says, St. Mark the Evangelist was the first catechetical Teacher *. From the foundation of this Church, there was a continued succession of celebrated Doctors. About the year 180, PANTENUS was the instructor of Christian children in this school, which EUSEBIUS remarks, had long before this period been a seminary of sacred learning, and still continued so in his time f. PANTENUS WAS succeeded by CLEMENT, who while he was catechist, composed his celebrated work still extant, the Pædagogue, or Child's Guide. To CLEMENT succeeded ORIGEN, when he was only eighteen years of age, after whom HERACLAS was appointed, and he was followed by DIONYSIUS. The illustrious ATHANASIUS likewise, and DIDYMUS and ARIUS Successively held this office. At Cæsarea, Antioch, Rome and Carthage, were similar schools. At Jerusalem CYRIL wrote his Catecheses, while he was Catechist of that school, and a young man, as JEROM and others have remarked.

Before I proceed to enquire what was the substance of the ancient Catechisms, and to examine how far our own form corresponds with them, it may be proper to say something of the condition and

* JEROM's words are, Juxta quandam veterum in Alexandriâ consuetudinem, ubi a Marco evangelistâ semper ecclesiastici fuere doctores, docuit PANTENUS. By Ecclesiastical Doctors he cannot mean the Bishop and Presbyters of the Church, but the Doctors of Christian Philosophy in the Catechetic School.

+ EUSEB. Hist. Eccl. Lib. v. Cap. x.

treatment

treatment of the heathen Catechumens, who, at the times of which I have been speaking, formed the great body of persons that were catechised. These were, in general, adults, and partly proselyted to the Christian faith; but till they had obtained a more perfect knowledge of the Christian system, it was not thought expedient that they should be admitted to be baptized. In the apostolic age indeed, and at the first plantation of the Gospel, the interval between Conversion and Baptism was very short. What St. Luke relates of CORNELIUS, of the Ethiopian Eunuch, and of the jailor at Philippi, sufficiently proves, that Catechising and Baptism closely accompanied each other. In subsequent times, the term of probation was prolonged, though it was always, in some degree, regulated by the proficiency and good conduct of the Catechumen. The too hasty and indiscriminate admission of converts, was found by experience to fill the Church with immoral characters, and to increase, especially when persecution raged, the number of Apostates. The pagan Catechumens were therefore regularly disciplined and prepared for Baptism.

Two years seem to have been the most common period of probation and instruction *. Thus, while time was given to make trial of their conversation, and opportunity allowed for weaning themselves from their former errors, they were gradually instructed; first in the more simple and common prin

*It was in some places three years, and occasionally more. In others eight months, and sometimes less.

ciples

ciples of religion, and afterwards in the more mysterious articles of the Christian faith.

The Pagan Catechumens were divided into at least two classes, the imperfect and perfect, or the novices and the proficients. The more ignorant of the former were only not quite Heathens, and numbers of the latter had made such progress in Christian knowledge, and given such proofs of their sincerity and orderly conversation, as qualified them to become candidates for Baptism at the next public administration of that rite. These were accordingly accepted, and appointed to be baptized at the approaching festival of Easter or Whitsuntide.

The former class were frequently distinguished by the name of Hearers, from their being permitted to hear Sermons preached, and the Scriptures read in the Church. The others were called Genuflectors, or Prostrators, from their being allowed to hear the prayers likewise, and to receive the Minister's benediction *. At the celebration of the Eucharist both were excluded. The perfect, they that had been examined for Baptism and approved, devoted the season of Lent, or the twenty days that preceded the time of Baptism, to abstinence, confession, and prayer, and to hearing expositions of the Creed. At this time they were likewise taught the responses to be made at Baptism; the form in which they were to renounce the devil and covenant with Christ.

* See article Final Blessing in the Communion Office.

Our

Our form or manner of catechising is like that of the primitive Church, by question and answer. Thus Philip catechised the Eunuch, and thus adults in general were catechised prior to their admission to Baptism. "Catechism," says CLEMENT of Alexandria, "is the knowledge of religion first delivered to "the ignorant by the Catechist, and again repeated by them;" and the preface to the Roman Catechism remarks, that "the manner of the apostolic catechising, which in the mysteries of Baptism "the Church still imitates, was by questions and

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66 answers."

In matter and substance likewise our Catechism corresponds with ancient forms. CLEMENT styles the Catechism a concise instruction; the Catechumens being obliged to learn by heart only the Renunciation, the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer, which they repeated at their Baptism. They were principally catechised in the articles of the Creed, which were expounded at considerable length; and the Lord's Prayer was likewise commonly explained to them. Though the Ten Commandments are not expressly mentioned, as constituting a part of any primitive Catechism, yet it is not improbable that they were taught to young Christians; for they that were baptized promised to live according to God's commandments, and the Catechumens were always instructed in moral duties.

In the more ancient British Church likewise the exposition of the Creed and the Lord's Prayer formed the principal part of catechising. BEDE informs us,

5

that