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ance with the Scriptures. The questions are well selected and arranged to impress on the minds of youth the leading doctrines of the Bible. Parents will find it useful in the education of their children. Societies formed on this plan must be highly beneficial to youth, and promise much good to the church. I freely recommend it to the patronage of the pious.

EZRA FISK.

Princeton, June 1, 1813.

I cheerfully add my testimony to that of others, in favour of Mr. WILBUR's "Biblical Catechism" as an excellent manual in the religious instruction of children and youth.

ASHBEL GREEN.

Extract from a review in the Panoplist for April, 1813.

Mr. Wilbur has executed his plan in such a manner, as to deserve the approbation of the Christian public.-The questions are important, the texts referred to generally apposite and suited to impress the true answer on the mind, and the effect of teaching this catechism to the young, or rather inducing the young to teach themselves by the use of it, can hardly be otherwise than good. We have examined all the references which are intended to be committed to memory. They form a precious treasury of jewels taken from the inexhaustible mine of Scripture. To have them deposited in the memories of young persons, must be a most desirable reward for the labour of collecting and arranging them.

The principal design of the author in composing this Catechism, was to benefit young persons, associated for the purpose of studying the Scriptures together in Catechetical Societies, a constitution for which is prefixed to the work. Twenty such societies have been formed we are told, and have experienced essential advantage by consulting this little manual. A large portion of the members have produced answers to questions, selected for the purpose, in the form of written compositions. The manifest tendency of such a course is to make the learner familiar with the Holy Scriptures; and while his memory is strengthened, and his mind expanded, by studying the momentous truths there revealed, his conscience may be awak ened, and, by a Divine blessing, his heart renewed.

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Dear Sir, Salem, August 15, 1816. Nothing can be of higher importance, than that the minds of young persons be early and deeply imbued with the Holy Scriptures. For this interesting purpose, I know of no general plan which promises more, than the one set forth in your "Biblical Catechism," and illustrated and enforced in your "Discourse on the Religious Education of Youth." Portions of the Scriptures, judiciously selected and arranged under general and particular heads, comprising the leading doctrines and pre cepts, warnings and encouragements of religion, must enrich the young mind vastly more when committed to memory, than equal quantities of scripture, taken either promiscuously, or in course. The catechetical form has also very evident advantages; and associations for catechetical exercises must eminently serve to engage attention, to excite interest, to quicken the faculties, and to promote improvement. May the Lord prosper your endeavours, for the everlasting benefit of the generation now rising, and of generations to come.

Very affectionately yours,

S. WORCESTER.

Advertisement.

WHILE the united, laudable, and increasing exertions to circulate the BIBLE among the destitute, rejoice the hearts of Zion's friends, they, doubtless, will not despise a humble at tempt to promote among those who possess this invaluable treasure, a more intimate acquaintance with "the holy Scriptures, which are able to make" us, "wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." The subsequent Catechism was designed particularly for the use of the young, formed in associations for the laudable purpose of replenishing their minds with a knowledge of the doctrines, duties, warnings, promises, and consolations of our holy religion. Regular Society meetings of young people, for religious mental improvement, might be rendered deeply interesting and highly useful. They would be cheap, safe, honourable, and profitable substitutes for parties entirely devoted to vanity.*

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Such as are disposed to write answers to questions, which constitute the lessons of the Class, may consult the references connected with the questions, and "search the Scriptures" for other appropriate passages. Thus they would improve THEMSELVES in composition and religious knowledge by digesting, and committing their ideas to paper, and improve OTHERS by *Dear IMMORTALS: "Doth not WISDOM cry "" Jonah 2. 8. Prov. 8. 10, 11, 32-36. and 3. 1-18.

communicating them. Society members who choose not to write may commit to memory the references which precede the parallel, and thus answer the questions by storing their minds with scriptural truths in the language of inspiration. The first sets of references are selected to form in scripture language, connected appropriate answers to the questions, and may be committed to memory as such. Children in families and schools may successfully and profitably adopt this method of using the Biblical Catechism. The proposed exercises, tend to strengthen the memories, enlarge and invigorate the understandings, correct and improve the taste, and to affect the HEARTS of the YOUNG. Persons of more mature age whose leisure and inclination permit, may be highly useful to the young by writing judicious answers to such questions as they please to select, and admitting their answers to be read before a Bible Class, or before their domestic circles. By Preceptors it has been suggested that beginners in composition at academies might derive particular assistance from this Work. The question would serve to fix their attention to one point. The references would furnish them with ideas which they might easily clothe in their own language, while their attention to scripture truths would enrich their minds with important knowledge. It has likewise been suggested by learned Fathers in the ministry, that this Work, with a Divine blessing, would have a tendency to arouse the attention of all classes to the written and dispensed word of GOD, and might be profitably used in religious Conferences, or as a Common-place text book. Finally if it prove but ONE MITE in the TREASURY OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE, if it be made instrumental of assisting any in drawing "the water of life from the wells of salvation," it will furnish occasion for lively gratitude both in the Reader and in the AUTHOR.

ADDRESS

TO A BIBLE CLASS.

YE DEAR YOUTH,

ICONGRATULATE you on exchanging the vain empty pursuits which so commonly engross the attention of the young, for the cultivation of your minds in moral and religious knowledge;— knowledge calculated to render you amiable, honourable, useful, and happy through life-knoweldge which will endure when human science shall be no more.

Ye dear members of this BIBLICAL ASSOCIATION, Thus far you have done well. PERSEVERE IN WELL DOING. "Dearly beloved," ," "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all

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wisdom." Continue to "Search the Scriptures." They are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." SEARCH them. Never peruse them so carelessly as to leave no ideas in the understanding,-no impressions on the heart. Search them DAILY. Not content with having drank yester day; slake your thirst each day at the streams of that river which makes glad the city of God.

Search them carefully. By comparing spiritual things with spi ritual you may clearly ascertain what is truth and what is duty. Search them with candour. Do not seek support from the Scriptures for sentiments, merely because they are pleasing to You; but repair to the oracles of GOD, determined to adopt no sentiments but what the Scriptures inculcate :—no sentiments displeasing to GoD and ruinous to souls.

Search them with confidence in their authenticity and inspiration. If you view them as "cunningly devised fables" they will profit you nothing.

Search them with the deepest interest. The mathematician collects and binds his wandering thoughts merely to solve a problem in Euclid. How much more profound attention the Scriptures demand. They contain the CHARTER of the Saints' inheritance, and the DEATH WARRANT of impenitent Sinners.

Search them with prayerfulness. Without prayer, the Bible will prove a sealed book. Human wisdom knows not God. But if the illuminating influences of the Holy Spirit beam on the page of inspiration, you will understand the truths and discover the beauties of the Sacred Volume.

Search the Scriptures with self-application. Ever bear in mind when perusing the word of God, that Jehovah,whose character is there revealed is your Maker, your daily Benefactor, your Redeemer, and your Judge. Let your mind ever be tenderly alive to the Scriptural exhibition of human depravity,—the requirements and denunciations of God's law,—the invitations and promises of the Gospel. Remember that immutable truths are revealed in the Scriptures in which you as individuals are deeply and eternally concerned.

Need I spread before you motives to stimulate you, rightly and devoutly to study your Bible. Thus to "Search the Scriptures is honourable, is useful, is conducive to happiness, and is a command of God."

In them the

The study of the Scriptures is HONOURABLE. Supreme Ruler of the universe has dictated by his Spirit, and written as with his own hand, epistles of love in characters of blood, offering to the penitent and believing an interest in his holy favour, an adoption into the family of heaven and immortal crowns of righteousness and glory; and are not your honour,

your wisdom, and your interest, concerned that they should daily meet your eyes, affect your hearts, and regulate your lives? It is highly USEFUL rightly to search the Scriptures. It enlivens the imagination, corrects the taste, enriches the under standing, keeps the heart and mends the life. It will humble you in prosperity, support you in adversity, disarm death of his sting, and the grave of its terrors. And from the armoury of heaven you may replenish your minds with weapons to subdue every inbred corrupt propensity. The "sword of the Spirit" ensures the victory.

Devoutly to study the Scriptures is CONDUCIVE TO HAPPINESS. Wisdom's ways are pleasantness, and ALL her paths are peace. The consolations of GOD's word are abundant and suited to every circumstance in which the humble believer can be placed. Finally, Search the Scriptures is a command of Christ. He that knows his Lord's will and does it not shall be beaten, shall be beaten with MANY stripes.

My young friends, Is it illusion or are your countenances expressive of a determination devoutly to study your Bibles. I rejoice that the most of you are engaged to become acquainted with the letter of the Scriptures. I more rejoice in the belief that some of you are acquainted with the power and consolation of God's word. I believe that some of you do, and will continue devoutly to search the Scriptures. Through love and obedience to them, I hope to see such shine as the brightness of the firmament for ever.

My fears distress me lest the faint resolutions of some this evening will prove but momentary. I almost tremble lest many of you will never search the Scriptures with faith, self-application, and prayerfulness. The seriousness, the solemnity, which has been manifested by you, my dear young friends, has raised hopes that GOD was about to pluck more of you as brands from everlasting burnings, and put songs of deliverance into your mouths. Must these fond hopes be blasted? By the worth of your immortal souls, by the solemnities of a hastening judgment-by the joys of heaven and the miseries of hell, I beseech you immediately to make your peace with GOD. By the agonies, the groans, and the death of the Son of GOD,-by his ability and readiness to save penitent sinners, and his power and determination to punish the impenitent, I conjure you to flee from impending wrath, and embrace the hope of the Gospel.

Do any of you weep in view of your guilty, wretched, helpless condition. GOD grant that the tears of penitence may flow from your eyes, and the consolation of the Gospel be poured into your bosoms. Ye dear youth, It is my heart's desire and prayer to God for you all, that you may be saved.

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