Thomas Dilworth, a distinguished educator and textbook writer, published in 1740 in England his schoolbook, the New Guide to the English Tongue.  Benefiting from his experience as Thomas Dilworth's book grew in popularity, until, by 1765, it was universally adopted by all the New England schools in America.  This book, which contained spelling, reading and grammar lessons, was "adorned with proper Scriptures."  Its first lesson, comprised of words three letters long or less, went as such:

"No Man may put off the Law of God.  The Way of god is no ill Way.  My Joy is in God all the Day.  A bad Man is a Foe to God."  - 1740, New Guide to the English Tongue, London, 1740.  H.R. Warfel, Noah Webster, Schoolmaster to America (New York: Octagon Press, 1966), pp. 11-13.  Tim LaHaye, Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publishers, Inc., 1987), pp. 75-76.

Noah Webster, known as the Schoolmaster to America," used only Dilworth's book and the Bible in his earliest school.  Thomas Dilworth said he wanted to:

"[Rescue] poor creatures from the Slavery of Sin and Satan by setting "the word of God for a Lantern to our feet and a Light to our Paths."  - Ibid.