tomed to reverence, venerate, and love Him. To this, however, they should be instructed according to their capacity; for example, pointing up to heaven you may say, “God dwells there”; turning their attention to the sun, “Lo, God made the sun, by whch He shineth upon us”; when it thunders, “Lo, He threatens the impious,” etc. Likewise promising them, if they willingly pray to God and obey father and mother, that God will give them beautiful attire, but if not, that He will punish them. And when any new clothing is given them, a repast, or anything that pleases them, it ought to be said that God gives them these things. If they visit where there is a dead body, or accompany a funeral, show them the dead body as covered with earth in the grave, or an animal that has been killed, and say, “God destroyed them because of wickedness.” All these things should be done in order that the power of God may be impressed upon their mind.
13. If the things here written seem childlike to any one, my answer is, that they are so; for the matter here treated belongs to children with whom we cannot proceed otherwise than in a childlike manner. Christ Himself, in His word and in His life, speaks to adults in no other way than as children; for, in truth, we are children, understanding divine and heavenly things not as they are in themselves, but according to our capabilities; and yet God descends to our infirmities; why, then, should not we condescend to the weakness of our children?
14. When they have learned the Confession of Faith, the Ten Commandments may be gradually given them,[1] and in the same order which has been advised with respect to the Lord’s Prayer and the Confession of Faith; so that the
