mentator Dr. C. C. Flatt at all his inferior. These distinguished champions of the truth sustained the cause of orthodoxy for upward of twenty years, and published from time to time, the most able replies to the several systems of infidelity which sprung up in Europe. Having been harassed by metaphysical and speculative and infidel systems of pretended Christianity, they were taught the absolute necessity of building their faith exclusively on the word of God; and the present work is purely of this Biblical character. It is confined to the doctrines which are taught in the sacred volume TOTIDEM VERBIS. The various INFERENTIAL, sectarian views, which are used by divines of different denominations to complete their peculiar systems, are here omitted; even those of the Lutheran church to which the authors belonged. The work is composed with the highest regard to exegesis, composed too in view of all the objections which the liberalists of the last thirty years have been able to raise. That such a work is peculiarly needed in the present day, must be evident to every reflecting mind acquainted with the course of theological discussion in our country. In regard to the dress in which the work is presented to the English public, it was the translator's wish that it might appear in the most favourable aspect. This he endeavoured to effect on the one hand by avoiding that servility, which whilst it hampered his diction would render the work offensive to the classic mind; and on the other, by guarding against that liberty which degenerates into unwarranted license, and deserves the name, not of translation but paraphrase. In the management of the work, some important improvements have been attempted. The original is printed thus: first, the propositions or text; next, notes; thirdly, notes upon these notes, by Storr; then notes upon all these notes, by Flatt; which occasionally creates much perplexity and confusion to the reader. All these the translator has incorporated into one continuous and connected discussion, consisting simply of the text or propositions and the Illustrations or discussion of them. The extremely numerous references which abound in all Storr's works, are generally thrown into the margin. Numerous additions also have been made to the body of the work. The most important of these are the translation of the very frequent quotations from heathen authors, from the earlier ecclesiastical writers, and from the Old and New Testament. In some instances the critical reader will perceive, that improved translations have been given to Scripture texts. On these the translator spent much time and investigation, and it is hoped his decisions will be found to have been made not without judgment. Every thing, also, included in [ ], throughout the work, is added by the translator. In a few instances in which the learned author's enthymemes seemed somewhat obscure, his reasoning has perhaps been rendered more lucid by the insertion of the intermediate link in his chain of reasoning. For the purpose of facilitating references, a caption or summary view of contents, has been prefixed to every Illustration in the work, excepting those only which were so brief as not to require it. The occasional original additions are distinguished by the letter S. To the article of the Trinity an appendix has been added, in which an attempt is made to prove that this doctrine, as now understood and defended, is perfectly accordant with reason, and cannot be assailed on any ground of true philosophy. The translator deems it no less an act of justice than a source of gratification, to acknowledge his obligation in the publication of this work to PROFESSORS STUART and MURDOCK, as well for the encouragement given him to proceed with the translation, as for the aid afforded in conducting it through the press. Having consented to add this laborious task to his numerous other duties, at the request of some of his clerical brethren whose wishes he could not disregard; and having conducted the work, as he humbly trusts, with a supreme reference to the glory of the divine Redeemer, he cannot but pray, most earnestly, that in his benevolent Providence, may be made instrumental in the promotion of the interests of his kingdom. To God, therefore, and to the blessing of his gracious Providence, he would commend these first fruits of that life which he has received from his hand, which like a vapour is passing away, and which he prays may ever be devoted to him who gave it. it 1. Testimony of heathen writers respecting the early existence of the writings of the Christians, § 1 2. Genuineness of the homologoumena, § 2 3. Genuineness of the antilegomena, § 3 The truth of this declaration of Jesus, is established 89 128 149 -They were not the effects of human agency, -But are actually proofs of his divine mission, b) Jesus assures us, that the doctrines of the apostles Paul possessed divine authority: This is evinced by his own declaration in connexion with the history of his vocation to the apostleship, and his miracles, and the testimony of the other c) The writings of the apostles, also possess divine B. Divine authority of the Old Testament. 1. The divinity of the Old Testament is founded on the declarations of Jesus and his apostles, § 13 2. The O. T. contained the same books, at the time of Jesus and his apostles, which it contains now; 2. The moral nature of man, connected with the con- stitution of nature, necessarily leads him to the belief of a Moral Author and Governor of the |