C 8344.666.10 HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY GIFT OF FRIENDS HISTORICAL LIBRARY E PREFACE. THE following Essays are offered to the public with a hope that they may receive a candid perusal from inquiring minds, and that they may, under the Divine blessing, lead some to examine with attention the important doctrines of which they treat, and to build their houses, not upon the sandy foundation of traditional belief, but upon the rock of immediate revelation; for on this rock only, the true church of Christ has ever been established. The colloquial style has been chosen, in order to render the work more interesting to the young, and as affording a better opportunity of stating the objections that are generally advanced against the views here advocated. The author has endeavoured to state fairly the arguments of those who differ from him in opinion, and especially to bring into view those passages of Scripture on which they have most relied: for he believes that these sacred records are, under Divine influence, of inestimable value in giving us a knowledge of Christian doctrines. It is, however, the principal aim of this work, to show that the kingdom of Christ is a spiritual kingdom, and that wherever it is established in the heart, it ascribes "glory to God in the highest," and promotes "peace on earth, and good-will to men." Occoquan, Va. 2d mo. 24th, 1835. |