Scholar. Sanctification is the [gradual and progressive operation] of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man, &c.

In this way the Teacher causes the children to explain the words renewed, whole man, and all the other terms in the question which are marked for explanation, and to substitute the explanations one by one, until the whole are finished. The third course is then commenced.

In this course, the two former having been gone over, the children must be required to insert all the explanations in their order, and to repeat the answer with the Paraphrase completely formed;—thus,

Sanctification is the [gradual and progressive operation] of God's free grace, whereby we are [changed and made new] in [all the faculties of the soul and habits of the body] after the [likeness to the character] of God, and are [made able] more and more to [become dead to the power and influence of former evil dispositions and habits] and [to be alive and active to every holy suggestion, and in the performance of all those acts of goodness which the Bible enjoins.]

Thus the Explanations will, by defining each difficult term, complete the child's knowledge of every question as he advances; while the Paraphrase will amplify the concise expressions; and, by putting him in possession of other equivalent phrases, will enlarge his conceptions, and effectually prevent him from ever again repeating the catechism by mere rote, the evil at present so universally prevalent;-and by these means, his mind will be stored with well digested knowledge, tenaciously rivetted, and capable of being turned to manifest advantage

On the use of the New Proof Catechism. After the child has been made fully ac quainted with the meaning of the doctrines, another most important part still remains; namely, to convince him, by appropriate proofs, that these doctrines are really deduced from the Scriptures. If this is altogether neglected, or but carelessly performed, the child is apt to regard these doctrines as the mere deductions and opinions of men; in which case, his faith will not be settled upon a sure and permanent foundation, his religious opinions will take but a loose hold of his mind, and he will be liable to be reasoned out of them by the artful sophistry of unbelievers, and will thus present but a feeble resistance to the powerful allurements of vice. If, on the contrary, these doctrines were fixed upon his mind, as the doctrines contained in the Word of God, and absolutely necessary to the salvation of his soul, he would be arrayed in a panoply which would effectually resist the fiercest attacks of the wicked. His principles would, in this case, be connected with the Scriptures by a bond, which neither his own efforts, nor those of others, would be able entirely to sever; and he would, after having, in addition to this exercise, gone a course or two through the" Help to the Gospels," be prepared for entering upon life " well established in the faith," and properly instructed both what to Avoid and what to practise.

A

In order to effectuate this most necessary purpose, it is quite obvious, that every thing like vagueness in the proving of the doctrines must be utterly discarded. Clearness and pointedness must be the regulating principles of this exercise ;-for if the least shadow or obscurity hangs over any proof, fuil conviction will not be produced in regard to that doctrine. In these respects, it must be acknowledged, that the common Proof Catechism is extremely defective. The children are, in general, unable to perceive any connection between the clause of the Question which contains the doctrine, and the verse which is adduced to prove it; be cause, in the first place, they do not properly understand what is the precise doctrine to be proved; and in the second, they are often required to select from a long verse a particular clause, which is all that is to the point,-a process of abstraction which children have neither ability nor inclination to effect. The references also, are conducted on a principle so unperspicuous, that the children become bewildered, and lose all delight in the exercise. In general, it may be asserted, that they have learned the question, and then the proofs; but that these ever remained detached and unconnected; and, having no associating link, in a short time they disappeared from the memory, leaving the children almost as ignorant as before, with the disadvantage of having spent their time and labour in vain.

All these evils the New Proof Catechism professes to remedy. In it the doctrines are all separated from the question, and distinctly stated, which will at once make the child perceive what is the doctrine to be proved; he having, by the Explanations and Paraphrase, been already taught what is its meaning. The next improvement is, that no more of the passage which is adduced to prove the doctrine is put down, than what visibly confirms it. By these means all obscurity or ambiguity is prevented, every thing extraneous is rejected, and the utmost perspicuity prevails throughout. Thus it is thought, that the New Proof Catechism will be found a great acquisition to parents and Teachers, in facilitating the communication of instruction, by shewing distinctly the doctrines taught in the catechism, and by proving these by forcible and well selected passages.

On the Method of using the New Proof
Catechism.

In teaching, the New Proof Catechism, three things should be punctually observed. 1st, The children must distinctly understand the doctrine to be proved, and see that it is contained in the question. 2d, They must clearly understand the meaning of the passage which is adduced as proof. 3d, They must perceive the connection between these two, and be convinced, that the one proves the other. On the strict adherence to these three things depends the efficiency of this exercise.

The following specimen may perhaps assist Teachers in forming an idea of the manner of securing these distinct objects, taking again the 35th question as an example.

1. How to make the Child separate the Doctrines from the Answers.

Teacher.-What is sanctification ?

Scholar." Sanctification is the work of God's free grace," &c.

Teacher. How many doctrines are announced in this answer?

Scholar.-Nine.

Teacher. State the first doctrine taught in this an

swer.

Scholar. The first doctrine is, "that sanctification is the work of God."

Teacher. Repeat that part of the answer which contains that doctrine.

Scholar. grace."

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Sanctification is the work of God's free

This will shew the pupil the connection of the doctrine with the question, and it is presumed that he has already received. by means of the Exercises and Explanation, a complete knowledge of the meaning of the doctrine.

2. To make the Child understand the Text which proves the Doctrine.

Teacher.-Prove from Scripture, that sanctification is the work of God.

Scholar. Phil. ii. 13." For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."