Church-of-Englandism and its Catechism examined: Preceded by Strictures on the Exclusionary System, as pursued in the National Society's Schools: Interspersed with Parallel Views of the English and Scottish Established and Non-Established Churches: and Concluding with Remedies Proposed for Abuses Indicated: and an Examination of the Parliamentary System of Church Reform lately pursued, and still pursuing: including the Proposed New Churches.

BENTHAM, Jeremy (1748-1832).

London: Effingham Wilson, Printed, 1817: Published, 1818. [Religion and Education] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.lvi; ix-xliv; 248; 456. Recently re-backed in brown calf, with raised bands, gilt titles to red morocco label on spine, and original speckled calf boards. All edges speckled brown. Pencil notes to margin of p.65 in the second part. Some irregular light to moderate spotting. Some rubbing and bumping to original boards, with repairs to corners. Restored to an attractive, practical condition. Very good. Bentham takes hammer and tongs to the Anglican Catechism, embodied in the Book of Common Prayer, calling it a bad substitute for the Bible itself, and demanding the abolition of its use in schools. To those who wished to compromise by supplementing it with new material, he had the following clear answer: "expound an exposition?—No: absurdity is involved in the very idea of it... The longer a text, the greater the quantity of matter, for commentators and expositors to crawl over with their slime." Item #59376

Price: £500.00