Lucas at so great a length, because it will be
easier and more edifying to the reader to conceive what he said,
than for me to recount it. He showed the Baby to be one of seven
mysteries. He was in favor of teaching him at once to hate
idolatry, music, crosses, masses, nuns, priests, bishops, and
cardinals. The "humanities," the Shorter Catechism, the
Confession of Faith, and "The whole Duty of Man," would, in his
opinion, be the books to lay the groundwork in the child's mind
of a Christian character of the highest type.
Mr. Ogle, M. P., here vigorously intervened. Said he:--
"I can't, with all deference, agree to any of these suggestions.
They involve hand-to-hand fighting over this baby's body. No one
of us is entitled to take charge of him. Else why did we all
unite to rescue him from the nunnery? He will be torn to pieces
among contending divines! I think a purely secular education is
all that as a committee we should aim at. We have, but just
withdrawn the child from the shadow of a single ecclesiastical
influence--would you transfer it to another? Every Protestant
denomination is contributing to his support, how can you devote
their gifts to rearing him for one? You would have no peace;
better at once treat him as the man of Benjamin treated his wife,
cut him up into enough pieces to send to all the tribes of
Israel, summoning them to the fight.
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