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.

Now it is certain that what we are in the first place concern'd to
know, is that which is necessary to our Salvation; and it is as
certain that whatever God has made necessary to our Salvation, we are
at the same time capable of knowing. All Instruction therefore which
obtrudes upon any one as necessary to their Salvation, what they
cannot understand or see the evidence of, is to that Person, wrong
Instruction; and when any such unintelligible, or unevident
Propositions are delivered to Children as if they were so visible
Truths that a reason, or proof of them was not to be demanded by them,
what effect can this produce in their Minds but to teach them betimes
to silence and suppress their Reason; from whence they have afterwards
no Principle of Vertue left; and their practices, as well as
opinions, must needs (as is the usual consequence hereof) become
expos'd to the Conduct of their own, or other Men's Fancies?

The existence of God being acknowledg'd a Truth so early receiv'd by
us, and so evident to our Reason, that it looks like Natural
Inscription; the Authority of that Revelation by which God has made