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Roman Catechism
The Ends of Religious Instruction
Hence, before we proceed to develop in detail the various parts of this summary of doctrine, our purpose requires that we premise a few observations which the pastor should consider and bear in mind in order to know to what end, as it were, all his plans and labours and efforts are to be directed, and how this desired end may be more easily attained.
KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST
The first thing is ever to recollect that all Christian knowledge is reduced to one single head, or rather, to use the words of the Apostle, this is eternal life: That they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.18 A teacher in the Church should, therefore, use his best endeavours that the faithful earnestly desire to know Jesus Christ, and him crucified,19 that they be firmly convinced, and with the most heartfelt piety and devotion believe, that there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved,20 for he is the propitiation for our sins.21
OBSERVANCE OF THE COMMANDMENTS
But since by this we know that we have known him, if we keep his commandments,22 the next consideration, and one intimately connected with the preceding, is to press also upon the attention of the faithful that their lives are not to be wasted in ease and indolence, but that we are to walk even as he walked,23 and pursue with all earnestness, justice, godliness, faith, charity, patience, mildness;24 for He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works. These things the Apostle commands pastors to speak and exhort.25
LOVE OF GOD
But as our Lord and Saviour has not only declared, but has also proved by His own example, that the Law and the Prophets depend on love, and as, according to the Apostle, charity is the end of the commandment, and the fulfilment of the law,26 it is unquestionably a chief duty of the pastor to use the utmost diligence to excite the faithful to a love of the infinite goodness of God towards us, that, burning with a sort of divine ardour, they may be powerfully attracted to the supreme and all-perfect good, to adhere to which is true and solid happiness, as is fully experienced by him who can say with the Prophet: What have I in heaven? And besides thee what do I desire upon earth?27
This, assuredly, is that more excellent way28 pointed out by the Apostle when he sums up all his doctrines and instructions in charity, which never falleth away.29 For whatever is proposed by the pastor, whether it be the exercise of faith, of hope, or of some moral virtue, the love of our Lord should at the same time be so strongly insisted upon as to show clearly that all the works of perfect Christian virtue can have no other origin, no other end than divine love.
17. Eph 4:5
18. Ps 73:25
19. 1 Cor 2:2
20. Acts 4:12
21. 1 John 2:2
22. 1 John 2:3
23. 1 John 2:6
24. 1 Tim 6:11
25. Titus 2:14-15
26. 1 Tim 1:5; Rom 13:10
27. Ps 72:25
28. 1 Cor 12:31
29. 1 Cor 13:8