THE

PROTESTANT DISSENTERS'

CATECHISM;

CONTAINING

I. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NON-CONFORMISTS.
II. THE REASONS OF THE DISSENT FROM THE
NATIONAL CHURCH.

BY THE LATE

REV. SAMUEL PALMER.

THE TWENTY-THIRD EDITION.

WITH A PREFACE

BY THE

REV. JOHN PYE SMITH, D.D., F.R.S., &c.

"Take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things
which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thine heart all the days
of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons."-DEUT. iv. 9.

LONDON:

JACKSON & WALFORD, 18, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD;
AND TO BE HAD OF ALL BOOKSELLERS.

LONDON:

W. M'DOWALL, PRINTER, PEMBERTON Row,

GOUGH SQUARE.

PREFACE

TO THE

TWENTY-THIRD EDITION.

It is now more than sixty years since "The Protestant Dissenters' Catechism" was first published. Neither its venerable author nor his friends used any of those indirect means of notifying and recommending it, which, in modern times, are too often employed; but to which a conscientious and humble mind cannot but feel an insuperable repugnance. Mr. Palmer knew that such a work was much needed; that, from the want of being early and faithfully instructed in the principles, which, he was convinced, were of high importance to the maintaining of scriptural religion, many of the young members of Non-conformist families were drawn aside, to become the supporters of ecclesiastical systems which have no foundation in the records or the spirit of Apostolical Christianity; and, in many instances, to lay aside all serious religion, and to become empty formalists or mere worldlings. Not that he confined vital piety to his own party: not that he doubted, in any degree, the sincere and fervent religion of great and happily increasing numbers in the Established Communion. From such a disposition he was very far. His whole life and his friendly connexions exhibited the reverse; but he was