nor certainty:  These Catechisms yet being represented to Children by those whom they the most Esteem, and Credit, as containing Sacred verities on the Belief of which Salvation does depend, they quickly become afraid to own that they are not convinc’d of the Truth of what is deliver’d in them:  For the greater part among our selves are instructed in Religion much after the same manner that that good Lady of the Church of Rome instructed her Child; who when the Girl told her, she could not believe Transubstantiation; Reply’d, What?  You do you not believe Transubstantiation?  You are a naughty Girl, and must be whip’d.

Instead of having their reasonable Inquiries satisfy’d, and incourag’d, Children are ordinarily rebuk’d for making any:  from whence not daring in a short time to question any thing that is taught them in reference to Religion; they, (as the Girl above-mention’d was) are brought to say, that they do Believe whatever their Teachers tell them they must Believe; whilst in Truth they remain in an ignorant unbelief, which exposes them to be seduc’d by the most pitiful Arguments of the Atheistical, or of such as are disbelievers of reveal’d Religion.

The Foundation of All Religion is the belief of a God; or of a Maker and Governour of the World; the evidence of which, being visible in every thing; and the general Profession having usually stamp’d it with awe upon Children’s Minds, they ought perhaps most commonly to be suppos’d to Believe This, rather than have doubts rais’d in them by going about to prove it to them:  because those who are uncapable of long deductions of Reason, or attending to a train of Arguments, not finding the force thereof when offer’d to prove what they had always taken for a clear, and obvious verity, would be rather taught thereby to suspect that a Truth which they had hitherto look’d on as unquestionable, might rationally be doubted of, than be any ways confirm’d in the belief of it.  But if any doubts concerning the Existence of God, do arise in their Minds, when they own this, or that this, can be discover’d by discoursing with them:  such doubts should always be endeavour’d to be remov’d by the most solid Arguments of which Children are capable.  Nor should They ever be rebuk’d for having those doubts; since not giving leave to look into the grounds of asserting any Truth, whatever it be, can never be the way to establish that Truth in any rational Mind; but, on the contrary, must be very likely to raise a suspicion that it is not well grounded.

The belief of a Deity being entertain’d; what should be first taught us should be what we are in the first place concern’d to know.