The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Messrs. Fowle,

If you think the following Piece deserving of a Place in your Paper, please to insert it.

Yours, A. Z.

THERE is nothing to which the Mind of Man is more a Dupe, than Prejudice. And perhaps few Things are harder to guard against or eradicate. Amongst the various Kinds of Prejudice, that of the religious Sort seems to be the most obstinate and universal. We frequently see Persons, even of Capacity, perversely maintaining Tenets directly opposite to every Principle of Reason, and sometimes almost to the Convictions of their own Minds, without assigning any other Cause for their Conduct but that they have been educated in them. Whether this is the Case with the Author who so zealously undertakes to censure the Conduct of the Country School-Master, in your last, I will not determine; but he certainly appears too much heated with something, to attend calmly to the Objections hinted at by the honest Pedagogue.

That the Book he speaks of, to wit, the Catechism, composed by the reverend Assembly at Westminster, contains many excellent Truths, and much sound Divinity, no one can with justice Dispute. Nor can I think any one foolish enough, to discredit a known scriptural Doctrine merely because it is also to be found in a Catechism. It neither gains nor loses Authority by this. For it is God on whom we depend for its Truth, and HE only is incapable of Deception. The Reverend Gentlemen before mentioned were, no Doubt, both wise and good. But they were MEN, and consequently liable to Error. Therefore to sift and examine their Writings, to compare them with the Standard of true Religion, the BIBLE, and to receive, or reject whatever in them agrees, or disagrees therewith, is not only highly becoming, but the indispensable Duty of all who profess to love that Liberty wherewith CHRIST has made them free. And whoever, on any pretence, departs from this, and places his Dependance on the Westminster Divines, or any other fallible Mortals, in a Matter of such infinite concernment as his eternal Salvation, insults the glorious Author of it, and acts in direct opposition to his positive Commands.

The Censorist seems too much warmed with his Subject to make the Distinction between relying on the Authority of the Catechism as such, and believing any Truth contained in it, supported by Scripture and Reason.

I cannot think with the Gentleman that the Question put by the School-Master has, or even appears to have, the least Tendency to ensnare his Pupil. On the Contrary his Answer, I think, proves its Propriety. The Child really believed (as many Children and others do;) that the Supreme-Being was the Author of the Catechism --- which surely was a Mistake very proper for the Master to rectify; even though the Book had contained nothing contradictory to the Word of GOD.

How far this is the Case---whether the Doctrines of original Sin, Election, &c. so strongly inculcated in this Author's favourite Book, are in all Respects consonant with the Scriptures, or even with common Sense, is a Point that has been so often debated, with so much Zeal, and to so little Purpose, that I am not vain enough to suppose I can now determine it. One Objection to the use of it for Children, I will venture to mention, and that is, it is too hard and abstruse to be comprehended by them, ---Many Parts of it being quite unintelligible to those of riper Years.

Before I conclude, I hope the Author will not be offended, if in the Spirit of Meekness, I recommend to him for the future to be more candid and dispassionate; to aim at Truth; to understand, before he attempts to answer; that his Zeal may not exceed his knowledge.

Finally to put no Confidence in human Inventions but to "search the Scriptures"--- That so "his Faith may not stand in the Power of Man but of GOD."