near as can now be ascertained, would not, but a mere trifle, if any, have exceeded his replies in length. It will now appear with what propriety he complains of the "uncommon length" of these numbers. It seems that he, in order to succeed to his mind, is under the necessity of requiring his antagonist to observe great brevity while he is excessively diffuse!

As to his having "matter" on hand which. On account of promise was entitled to a preference," it should be considered that, it was more than a year previous that he had positively promised the writer" a candid hearing & all due attention." If then he had matter on hand which was entitled to a preference, on account of promise," it must have been promised more than that length of time -but if this was the case it is marvelous indeed how he came to suffer so much matter, of a more recent date, to supercede that which had been so long promised: for certainly that which he published of this kind, within this time, fills no small proportion of his work! It must then be for some reason paramount to a positive" promise" that he occupied his columns with this kind of matter!

But he still gave some reason to expect that he would resume the controversy at some future period. For at the close of his notice he says" While the memoir of Elder Rich's life is continued, we shall still be obliged to omit these rejoinders." From this it would naturally be inferred that when this memoir" should be finished he would resume the publication of these rejoinders."But, on finishing the "memoir," he announced to his patrons that Peculiar circumstances obliged" him "to suspend the publication of the Examiner for a season." This information of course put an end to all expectations of his publishing the rejoinder any farther.

The reader now has the history of this affair before him. It has not been drawn up under the influence of the least unfriendly feeling towards the Editor. It appeared necessary, so far, to make a developement of these facts and circumstances, & the reader is now left to make his own conclusions. The editor courted a controversy in his columns-he endeavored to provoke it, by sending out one challenge upon the back of another-he was met on his own terms he gave the most unqualified assurances of a candid hearing and all due attention." The reader

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has seen what " attention" he has paid his antagonist.. Whether the course he has taken is such as might have been expected from the high ground he assumed at his commencement-whether indeed he has fulfilled his engagements to the public generally, and to his opponent in particular, is now left for the candid and impartial to judge. The writer freely confesses that he thought he had reason to expect a very different course. He has indeed observed that it is very common among this class of editors to profess to publish the arguments on both sides--to send out their banters from time to time; and if no one notice them to conclude that the opposite party deprecates investigation, and from their silence to endeavor to reap all the advantages of a glorious victory. But when put to the test they discover a total unwillingness to meet their opponents upon fair grounds. They profess great liberalitytheir columns are open to both sides--but if they do in fact upon any considerations, admit an opponent, they subject him to disadvantages under which they are aware it would be inconsistent for him to maintain a contest.

These facts have long since occasioned the writer of these pages, to consider all their proposals of this kind, as an empty show. He did hope that it might turn out otherwise in the case of the Examiner, but has to confess his disappointment.

When this controversy was commenced the writer had not the most distant thought of its ever assuming any other shape, or going any farther than the pages of the Examiner. But just as the affair was assuming a serious aspect as he was about to enter upon the defence of the main arguments in favor of eternal punishment; his manuscripts were suppressed-he was no longer permitted to speak through that organ. If he had succeeded entirely in that part of the rejoinder which was published, as it embraced but a small part of his design, and the most important part of it being still behind, his object was not accomplished. And to leave the matter here, he considered, would not be justice, either to himself or to the cause which he had undertaken to support. Being brought to the alternative of remaining in silence, under such circumstances. or publishing in some other form, he chose the latter. And as a part of what he had written, alone, would appear in a very disjointed state, not to say that it

would be altogether unintelligible; he came to the con clusion to revise the whole and put it into a pamphlet. The writer is aware that it will be the opinion of some, that as every thing had been done upon this subject, which is necessary or possible to be done, there is no public call for a work of this kind. Upon this ground he had much hesitancy himself with regard to it--but upon reflecting that the old arguments coming through new hands, assuming a new dress, and sometimes being considerably varied, seem to have all the force with many readers, that they would have, were they entirely original--that the most hackneyed arguments are supposed new, and those which have been answered a thousand times are considerod unanswerable, unless they are met as often as they are resumed. These things caused him to determine upon his present course.

It appears to the writer that too much silence has been observed on this point, & some others. While we are indulging in apathy, the assertors of heteradox opinions, are making use of the greatest efforts, & are awake to the improvement of every advantage. Their periodicals are uow flying in every direction through the United States. In these they rudely assail the fundamental doctrines of the Christian System. They challenge us to meet them in argument, and defend our system, if it is capable of defence" If there is light in" us, to "let it shine," &c. And they do not hesitate to construe our silence into a fear of coming to the light--a conviction that our theory will not bear investigation! Now foreign from the truth as this representation may be, it produces its impression-it often, very often, has its desired effect! The passion for novelty is so general, and so strong, and many are so precipitate and incautious in forming their views, that there is no theory so inconsistent but it obtains votariesand no sophistry so glaring but that, by some, it is considered as sound reasoning. Our opponents may be destitute of argument, but they supply the deficiency with assurance and zeal. We may treat them with neglectmay consider their arguments not worthy of a moments attention, that they refute themselves, &c. &c., but they have the adroitness to turn this into a mere pretext, to avoid an investigation, which we are aware would end in defeat. By these means many unwary souls are beguiled

from the truth and left bewildered in the maises of er

ror

To

Is this then a time for us to lie upon our oars? treat these subjects with reserve? Surely not! Bishop Hornby observes with great force of propriety, that "The corruptors of christian doctrine have no such reserve. The doctrines of the divinity of the son-the incarnation --the satisfaction of the cross as a sacrifice--the mediatoral intercession-the influences of the spirit-the eternity of future punishment-are topics of popular discussion with those who would deny or pervert these doctrines; and we may judge by their success what our own might be, if we would but meet our antagonists on their own ground. The common people, we find, enter into the force, though they do not perceive the sophistry of their arguments. The same people would much more enter into the internal evidence of the genuine doctrine of the gospel, if holden out to them, not in parts, studiously divested of whatever may seem mysterious,-not with accommodations to the prevailing fashion of opinions, but entire & undisguised." (See Hornby's Sermons, p. 4.)

Some may consider that the writer has bestowed too much attention upon the effusions of his opponent-that his sophistry is too absurd to require refutation. To such it should be observed, that his performances appear to be a fair specimen of what can be said in favor of his theory-that not only in his method of stating his views but in his mode of defending them, he generally follows some of the great lights that have gone before him--so that, if it is important that universalianism should be met and refuted under any circumstances, it will be difficult to perceive why it is not worthy of attention as supported by him-But, it is in fact not a matter of so much importance whether the arguments of an opponent are weak or strong-logical or illogical, if they do indeed injure community-if they poison the minds of any of its members If this is the case, the writer apprehends, it furnishes a call sufficiently imperious, to meet and expose them. And it becomes us as lovers of our fellow immortals-as watchmen upon the walls of our zion, to fly to the aid of those who are about to be turned out of the way, and if possible wrest them from the vortex of ruinous error, B

In this humble attempt to defend what he supposes to be the truth as it is in Jesus, the writerhas not the vanity to suppose that he is invulnerable to invidious criticism. It will doubtless be found to possess many imperfections, for which, he craves the indulgence of the candid; to whom he gives the most positive assurance that however imperfect or unsuccessful his efforts may be, they have originated from the best intentions.

It will hardly be necessary to say, that no claim is made to entire originality. The writer has read upon the subject very generally on both sides; and where he has found anything which answered his purpose he has taken the liberty to use it: always however, feeling happy in giving the author credit for it.

It was a source of some regret to the writer that he was under the necessity, in some measure, of altering his original plan. He commenced with an intention to write popular essays, and to avoid anything critical or laboured. Believing as he still does, that most points of the controversy, if not all of them, might as well be settled in our own vernacular tongue, as in any other-that after all our reference to the original, the same principles remain to be settled-the same laws of interpretation to be established. Though indeed the advantages of enlightened criticisms are entirely in our favor ; yet as the introduction of words and phrases from other languages is calculated to perplex common readers without affording them any instruction; and as it was principally for their advantage that this controversy was undertaken, it seems rather to be wished that it might have been avoided. But as his antagonist was sure to launch out his Greek upon every emergency, it became necessary for him somewhat to vary his design in order successfully to meet him.

The nos. which were published in the Examiner have undergone some trifling alterations. The typographical errors are corrected-in some instances the phraseology is altered; some redundencies are expunged, & deficiencies supplied. But great care has been taken not to make any alterations which would effect the editor's replies or in any manner injure the force of his arguments.

But as the reader has been detained too long already in this preface, it will be expedient to bring it to a close. The writer begs the further continuance of his patience,