A Manual of Religious Belief

87: 778: 261: 1048: 25: 194:, Robert's brother, had the manual in his possession after his father's death and unlike many other Burns manuscripts used by Currie, it remained in the hands of the family, for in 1875 it passed from Gilbert to his youngest son, also Gilbert, who lived in Chapelizod, Dublin. The family of Gilbert Burns of Chapelizod donated the manuscript to the 221:

In 1875 the manual was transcribed and published for the first time by McKie and Drennan of Kilmarnock with a largely biographical introductory essay by a noted Burnsian, James Gibson of Liverpool. In 1896 Chambers-Wallace published a version which reached a wide audience and they first provided the

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The manuscript is unbound and is made up of only six leaves, quarto size, that is 16.5cms by 21 cms. The document is devoid of a title, contents page, pagination or even a record of authorship. It is lightly tied with a piece of red thread, and John Murdoch's legible and elegant handwriting is found

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Dear Father, you have often told me, while you were initiating me into the Christian religion, that you stood bound for me, to give me a Christian education, and recommend a religious life to me. I would therefore, if you please, ask you a few questions that may tend to confirm my faith, and clear

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is often thought to have been based on William Burnes, but on closer inspection the views he expresses are too severe to match William's liberal theology. The manual for instance insists that pleasure and desire together with the animal soul have a role in Christian life. Such sentiments may have

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insisted on salvation by grace alone whilst Arminians emphasised God's mercy and the freedom of Will, proposing that salvation might be conditional upon an individual good works in life, and that grace can be resisted and lost, that Christ died for all men. The "Auld Licht" orthodox Presbyterians

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As stated William Burnes had been working on his theological manual for religious guidance since Robert's birth and probably before. The ponderous religious jargon used shows the religious influences of the 18th-century ministers, but producing the manual as a dialogue was very innovative for the

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The following questions give the essence of the approach taken by William Burnes and an insight into the religious terminology and religious attitude of the author. The answers composed by William Burnes are generally extensive and can be found in the specifically cited reference volume.

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If the Moral Law be of indispensable obligation, I become bound to perfect and perpetual obedience, of which I am incapable, and on that account cannot hope to be justified and accepted with God

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My Dear Child, with gladness I will resolve to you, (as far as I am able,) any questions you ask; only with this caution, that you will believe my answers, if they are founded in the word of God

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By what shall I know that Jesus Christ is really the person that was prophesied in the Old Testament; or that he was that seed of the woman that was to destroy the kingdom of sin

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Seeing the assistance of the Spirit of God is necessary absolutely for Salvation; hath not God clearly revealed by what mean we may obtain this great blessing?

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I should be glad to hear you at large upon religion giving pleasure to animal life; for it is represented as taking up our cross and following Christ.

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A Manual of Religious Belief, Composed by William Burnes, (The Poet's Father) for the Instruction of his Children: with a Biographical Preface.

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Then one would think this were sufficient to determine all men to love God, but how shall we account for so much wickedness in the world?

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Murdoch had similar religious views to William, and probably transcribed the manuscript in 1765 when he was working at

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frequently used the term "Arminian" as a criticism of the more liberal views of the 'New Licht' ministers such as

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Seeing the Scriptures are proven to be a revelation of God, am not I indispensably bound to believe and obey them?

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