CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. BEFORE we proceed to apply the principle that every subject in the Word of God is prominent in proportion to its importance, we wish briefly to appeal to the judgment and candour of those who have examined the many and various proofs we have adduced in favour of the truth of the principle itself. Now it is very possible, as can easily be imagined, that the correctness of the rule we have examined may be admitted, a strong conviction of its truth be felt; but when its application is found to militate against some preconceived views or favourite system; to invest with importance some neglected and unwelcome truth; in a word to shew, if this rule be correct, their system is defective or erroneous, under such circumstances it does not require much sagacity, or knowledge of human nature, to discover that prejudice immediately will be excited,-a wish secretly cherished that the principle itself were untrue; and any argument, however feebly, or remotely, it may seem, to militate against its truth, will be eagerly embraced. In short the rule is disliked; and therefore neglected, evaded, and at length openly rejected; and that simply because it did not square with preconceived views, of which, if admitted, it must prove subversive. As the writer feels there is little doubt such will be the case with many who may have gone thus far with him in the examination of the truth of the rule, he would earnestly and affectionately entreat all who value truth, to follow, with an impartial judgment, the application of the rule, for which he has been arguing, to the end of ascertaining the degrees of importance which the unerring wisdom that dictated the Sacred Scriptures has attached to each particular. For his own part he can in perfect sincerity say, he has been quite impartial in the proofs he selected, in order to establish the truth of that simple feature, that every subject is plain and frequent in the pages of Revelation in proportion to its importance; and he trusts and prays the same candour may be exercised by the reader in the application of the principle which he has employed in establishing it. CHAPTER II. THE RELATIVE PROMINENCE GIVEN TO CHRIST AND THE CHURCH IN THE SACRED SCRIPTURES. THE subjects to which we wish first to invite attention, in applying the rule that every subject is plainly and frequently set forth in the Scriptures in proportion to its importance, are the relative prominence that the inspired writers give to Christ and the Church. It is very evident from many of the works which are continually issuing from the press, and from many addresses delivered in our pulpits, that the Church, or the authority of the Church, is much more frequently and prominently set forth than that of her Divine Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the authority of His Word. Is this the scriptural or apostolical order? For if not, if the order be directly reversed, have we not, according to the rule we have examined, cause to fear some fundamental error is connected with a practice which prominently sets forth subjects in the inverse ratio of their importance? First let us examine the plain, broad fact itself, which can be so easily ascertained. Is the Church as fre |