§ III. No substitute to the Bible should be there taught the Catechism is made a substitute to it.

The sacred text ought not to have a substitute. The reason is simple enough: and as conclusive as it is simple. In so far as it is different from the genuine and sacred original, by this difference, and by the whole amount of this difference, the substitute stands condemned: in so far as it is not different, there is no use in it.

Whether as a postulate, or as a thing proved, in a Protestant Country, may not then this position be stated as uncontrovertible ?—In a Christian and Protestant Free School, the book in which is contained the whole religion of Jesus, ought not to have a substitute.

In the Central Free School, conducted in the name of the National Society, the Bible has a substitute. The Catechism-that formulary, the poisonous nature of which it is the business of this tract to lay open to view, is made to operate as this substitute.

By the proof that follows, the truth of this position will be seen manifested: manifested-to a degree beyond any, which, by a person who had not scrutinized into the documents, and with this particular view, could easily have been imagined. With the single exception of the very short prayer, called the Lord's Prayer, which it was impossible to

put aside,―of the sacred text, not a syllable is administered, if indeed it be administered,-but for

show and to save appearances. The only matter of a religious cast which is really intended to be administered with effect-the only matter of that description, which is so much as professed to be administered, in a manner calculated to produce the effect is the matter composed of the words of Holy Mother Church: and this, in the instance of this Catechism, in such a manner as to throw all the rest, even of that pretious matter, into the back ground.

*

"Our Saviour's Sermon on the Mount-Dis"courses of ditto-Miracles of ditto-Parables of "our Blessed Saviour"-these collections have already been stated as really proper for the purpose." It was even from the list of Books recommended in the Report, styled the National Society's 2d Report, that these titles have been transcribed. Had this been all, in no other character than that of an object of approbation and applause, would this part of the management have here been mentioned.

But these discourses and acts of this " Blessed Saviour," are they so much as read? Perhaps so: though scarcely even of this is any altogether unequivocal assurance to be found.†

In the National Society's Second Report-in that article of

But, the genuine matter of the original-suppose it read, what would it avail? what could the

the Appendix which is intituled, "No. VIII. The present "state of the CENTRAL SCHOOL, BALDWIN'S GARDENS," the passage stands as follows:-Page 196. "The Religious exercises "learnt by heart are the Lord's Prayer-Grace before and "after meat-2d and 3d Collects of the Morning and Evening "Service-Prayer on entering and leaving Church-the Cate"chism entire—and the same broken into short questions."

"The Books in reading, for which the Children are prepared "by previous instruction on the sand-trays, are-National So"ciety, Central School, No. 1. on cards (taught card by card, "first by previous spelling, then by words)-National Society, "Central School, No. 2.-National Society, Central School, No. "3.-the Sermon on the Mount-the Parables- the Discourses "-and the Miracles of our Blessed Saviour-Ostervald's Abridg"ment of the Old Testament-and Mrs. Trimmer's Abridg"ment of the New-all taught in the usual way, except that "the spelling columns, No. 3. are first read syllabically and then "by words: then follow the Bible and Prayer Book, to be put "into the hands of such as by means of this initiatory course "have attained to good reading."

These then-all these without discrimination-are the Books, for the reading of which the Children are "prepared." But in so long a list of Books-and some of them so voluminous-for example the Bible and the Prayer Book-that all should be read throughout is not possible. The consequence is that by those which are, those which are not the favourites, will, in a greater or less degree be pushed out: and these favourites which are

"The present State of the Central School"-Present?-at what time? Ask those who are in the secret. Look for it in this same No. VIIILook for it in any other part of this same Report—you may look long enough. But, this and so many other such reserves, have their sufficient reason; concerning which, see Part IV.

children be the better for it, when it is the substituted matter the spurious matter-when it is this alone that is got by heart: and not merely in the common way got by heart, but, by all the power of the new engine of instruction-by question and answer and by challenging-alias, competition and placetaking-injected: injected, as hath been observed into the very marrow of their bones. "1. Grace "before and after ment. 2. Second and Third Col"lects of the Morning and Evening Service. 3. Prayers on entering and leaving Church"*-all these put together, whether considered in respect of quantity or quality, are of little moment. For now comes the one thing needful—the Catechism. This is injected no less than three times over. For these are the words, in and by which it is spoken of as learnt by heart." The Catechism "entire-and the same broken into short questions."Upon the face of this statement, what might naturally be supposed, is-that it was but twice. But, turn to the Book, intituled "The Catechism broken into short questions," and you will find that in that book the whole matter of this same Catechism is administered twice over, viz. in the first

they?-that the portion of the Bible, in which are contained the accounts of the discourses and acts of Jesus are not of the number, is already but too manifest. One of them, however, we shall soon see, and in CAPITALS.

plan in larger portions, and then the same matter in smaller portions, into which, by the interposition of questions, each larger portion is broken down. Thus then we have the same matter administered three times over, viz. 1. unbroken; 2. broken into larger fragments; 3. broken into smaller ones.

In this most impressive manner, though it had been administered no more than once, it would have been quite sufficient to throw out into the back ground-every thing that came from Jesus: but in this same most impressive manner it is administered (we see) no less than thrice.

Even this was not thought sufficient. To provide the more effectually for the exclusion of every thing that belonged to Jesus,-under the name of "A CATECHETICAL INSTRUCTION, being an "ACCOUNT of the CHIEF TRUTHS of the CHRISTIAN "RELIGION, explained to the MEANEST CA

PACITY, by way of Question and Answer"or (to call it by the shorter title given to it) CHIEF TRUTHS,-to make certainty more sure, provision is made of another body of divinity, and that a new one,-to co-operate with the Catechism, and act under it, in the character of a subsubstitute to every thing that came from Jesus. Suppose the manner in which this sub-substitute is taught-suppose it even not more impressive than the manner in which, as above, the Discourses and Acts of Jesus are taught, how effectually the genuine matter might be elbowed out by this spurious

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