Page images
PDF
EPUB

THE

CHURCH CATECHISM

ILLUSTRATED;

IN A SERIES OF

Scriptural Examinations

ON ITS

VARIOUS DOCTRINES.

Originally compiled for the Use of a Sunday School at
Leeds.

BY JOSHUA DIXON,

SECOND EDITION.-WITH AN APPENDIX.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR L. B. SEELEY, 169, FLEET-STREET

By J. Seeley, Buckingham.

1822.

[Price 2s. 6d. boards.}

ELA

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

THE substance of the following little volume was originally compiled for the use of an extensive Sanday School, Each section formed the subject of a monthly examination of the scholars, who were previously furnished by their teachers with the scripture proofs it contained, and expected to quote them in answer to questions put to them by the superintendant. The plan has been pursued for three years, and has been found to promote their progress in religious knowledge more effectually than any method which had been previ onsly adopted; as well as to have the happy effect of increasing their attachment to the school, by rendering their pursuits not only profitable but pleasing, The teachers have also participated in its advantages, and found the part which devolved upon them to conduce much to their mental improvement.

With such encouragement from experience, the work is now submitted to the public, in the hope that similar benefits may result to other schools from adopting the same mode of instruction. It is equally calculated for general use, and will answer the purpose of a Manual of Divinity for young persons.

It will be by no means necessary that the whole of the Scripture references in each examination should be committed to memory. But as the passage which appears most striking to one person, may not seem equally so to another, a sufficient variety of texts has been inserted, to give every teacher an opportunity of making choice of such as be considers most appropriate.

The references to the Prayer Book will, it is hoped, be particularly acceptable, being well calculated to familiarize the minds of youth with the doctrines and spirit of the church in which they are educated, and to point out their accordance with Scripture; as well as to furnish them with proper expressions for their private devotions.

In one respect the present work will be observed to differ materially from most other publications of the kind. Though the questions are such as may properly be proposed to children, the answers are not always those which they might be expected to return. This is occasioned by its being designed not merely to exercise the memories of young persons, but to supply their instructors with the means of examining them as to the extent of their knowledge. It is recommended to those teachers who put the book into the hands of their scholars, to mark the portions to be committed to memory, which will of course vary with the age and proficiency of the pupil.

The work has little claim to originality; but it possesses perhaps

« PreviousContinue »