valued friends and brethren in the ministry, who had so often expressed their opinion of its practical usefulness. The present important crisis in our Church may not, however, render needless the efforts of her feeblest defenders; and the author sends forth his little work with the earnest prayer that it may tend, in some degree, to the promotion of truth, of unity, peace, and concord. May the Great Head of the Church shew us more clearly the dangers we are in from our unhappy divisions; and so guide us by His Word and Spirit into all truth, that being firmly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment, we may know how good, and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity; and how great the obligation to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. St. Helen's, Lancashire. PART I. II. The Nature of Revelation shewn by contrast- ing Theoretical and Practical Questions III. The Redemption of Fallen Man by the Cross of Christ, its vast Importance, and the great 88 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. IN a day when the Church of Christ is distracted by conflicting opinions, when differences exist, not merely on minor points, but on the most important subjects, and the serious and candid enquirer is perplexed by such contradictory statements-in a day, too, that is distinguished by extremes-persons rushing from the extreme of one set of opinions, to the extreme of the very opposite, and a degree of uncertainty is thrown over subjects which long since appeared to be finally settled-in such an unsteady state of public opinion, it would be no small advantage to the sincere enquirer to be furnished with some simple and safe standard, which might not only assist him in the investigation of truth, but prove a preservative against the common and pernicious practice of attaching undue importance to some subjects of Divine Truth to the comparative neglect or depreciation of others; a practice which if not in itself positive error, is, at least, its most fruitful source. Now, if it can be shewn by many incontrovertible proofs that every doctrine and precept of the Scriptures, so far as they practically concern B |