sciousness of his being accountable to GOD for every thing, he shall advance— who can adequately conceive the pious solicitude of his feelings, lest he should advance any thing, dishonourable to the moral Governour of the world-to the Character of the Redeemer-or, to the divine Source and Original of all truth, purity, and consolation; and indeed, ta the highest concerns of Mankind?

Under such impressions of moral responsibility, have I now taken up my Pen, with a professed DESIGN, to place together, in a concise and comprehensive Summary, all those distinct Articles of The christian Religion, which were "once delivered to the Saints"-which it is essentially necessary for us to know-and, which are intended to make us "wise," in a sense too generally disregarded, "unto SALVATION."

unprincipled levity, and thoughtless dissipation. In this innocent way, it is a dictate of true, unaffected Benevolence, to "become all things to all men." The body of the work will be cloathed with that simplicity of style, which is best adapted to popular instruction; in the attached, or subjoined remarks, we shall be less careful of this matter.

For all the intelligence requisite to this grand purpose, of inexpressible magnitude, I apply not to human Reason-to vain Philosophy-or, to "the Rudiments of the world"*-but, to that wonderful Preceptor, super-eminently called,

THE BIBLE:

which, in the present case, I shall take for granted has been " given by the Inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness-that The Man of GOD”—a Character entirely different from The Man of the world" may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work †.”

No two Writers I have met with, are better calculated to convince us of the extravagancies, into which human Reason is liable to wander, or of the vanity of human Philosophy, than Reid, and Beattie.

+ Indeed, if this be not the Character of the Bible, and it be not sufficient for every purpose of Wisdom, Virtue, Truth, and Happiness, it were absurd, and irrational, to admit its divine Inspiration. "The Law of the Lord,” in that case, is not a "perfect" thing; and, if we cannot

With this conviction, I have a sufficient apology, for asserting, that, were. I possessed of all the various powers of Science, Learning, and Oratory, they could not be more nobly employed than in celebrating the transcendent excellency of The sacred Volume; as conveying to us the most exalted ideas of The glorious Godhead; as the sole Repository of revealed Truth; and, as the only Oracle of that Wisdom, which can" guide 'our feet into the way of Peace."

That I may be effectually secured from any deviation from this infallible Directory,

derive every possible advantage of this kind from "The Oracles of God," where shall we go to supply their deficiency? or, how can we say, that, "the Darkness is past, and the true light now shineth," gawa, splendet? Should the Reader wish to learn what views he ought to entertain of this Light-the estimation, in which it should be held-and the sublime taste, he ought to cultivate for it, let him study diligently the language, and sentiment, of Ps. cxix.

while I am prosecuting this great design, and preparing a rich

Compendium of Christianity*,

I shall keep my eye steadily fixed on the subsequent passage of the inspired Code; and shall endeavour to arrange its important contents in an order, so perspicuous,

I know of nothing, that can apologize for the general inattention to this vast subject, when it is recollected, that every thing in the true nature and genius of Christianity not in the false, mutilated, and corrupt editions of it-is adapted to promote the real Excellence, the substantial Good, and the unfading Glory, of MAN. But, when we say this, we consider him, principally, in relation to his rational Constitution-his moral Agency-and his eternal Destiny. Including all these particulars in the use of that complex term, we argue, that, Christianity has the highest claim to the most intense application of his mental faculties, when it is surveyed in all the different views, in which it is proposed to our acceptance; whether, as "The wisdom of God"; as, a grand Scheme of Redemption; as, the most sublime manifestation of all the divine Glories, and Perfections; as, the richest Display of Grace, Mercy, and Peace; as, a Spirit of universal Benevolence; as, "The one thing needful;" or, as "The whole of Man." I offer these, as a Specimen only of the surprising and attractive variety of mode, in which it invites our most serious regard; and to shew, that merely to glance at it, and not to contemplate it, in its integrity, in its completeness, is no less an act of Injustice, and Ingratitude, than of irremediable Injury to our immortal concerns,

and demonstrative, that their light may dart upon the mind, with as much facility, as the rays of the Sun upon the Organ of natural vision.

Ephesians ii. 8, 9, 10, 7.

Τῇ γὰρ Χάριτι ἐςε σεσωσμένοι διὰ τῆς

Πίςεως καὶ τᾶτο ἐκ ἐξ ὑμῶν· Θεῖ τὸ δῶρον

Ουκ ἐξ ἔργων, ἵνα μή τις καυχήσηται

Αὐτε γάρ ἐσμεν ποιήμα, κτισθέντες ἐν

Χρισῷ Ιησᾶ ἐπὶ ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς· οἷς προητοίμασεν ο Θεός, ἵνα ἐν αὐτοῖς περιπατήσωμεν.

Ινα ενδείξηται ἐν τοῖς αιωσι τοῖς ἐπερχο

μένοις τον ὑπερβάλλοντα πλῆτον τῆς Χάριτος αυτέ, εν χρηςότητι ἐφ' ημας εν Χριςῷ Ἰησε.

"By GRACE are ye saved-through Faith: and that, not of Yourselves : it is the Gift of God:

« Not of Works; lest any man should boast:

66

For, we are his Workmanship-created in Christ Jesus unto good works; which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them :