the world, and the wonderful plan God now introduces to restore him and his inheritance, without being instinctively led to pursue his investigations, with all that ardor and zeal it so richly deserves, till he has searched out the whole history of man, and understands the design of God from the foundation of the world.

When we behold our first parents voluntarily fallen from their high and happy state, and plunged into a gulph of despair under the curse of the law, we deeply lament their servility and weakness, and reflectingly groan beneath the oppressive burden of sin consequent upon all men. And from this eclipse of darkness and gloom, we turn again and contemplate the rich provisions which the tender compassion and matchless love of a God has made for a rebel. lious world, in the gift of His only begotten Son, that through him pardon can be offered, and a restitution made, and man placed again in an Eden of happiness and glory. And in this contemplation we are overwhelmed with admiration and sublime wonder, at the exhibition of the divine character in the exercise of His attributes of wisdom, love, and benevolence, and our hearts swell with gratitude and reverence, and pious submission to his holy commands.

From the Scriptures we learn our entire duty, the design of God in bringing man into existence, and giving him a state of probation, and all that pertains to the glorious plan of redemption; and it is all important that this should be our first business and principal study, to learn the path of sacred truth and light, that we may walk therein, and by this means escape the merited doom passed upon all the finally impenitent, by a justly offended God. If it be admit

ted that the Scriptures are the most important and desirable to man, as well as interesting and attractive to the child, (in whom we have the elements of the perfect man,) and if its impressions are of so firm and lasting a character, the question arises, Why the people do not read them more and understand them better? We answer, For the reason that the god of this world hath so blinded their minds, that ere they come to a knowledge of the truth, they are beguiled and deceitfully led astray, and their moral sensibilities blunted, so that the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ is not comprehended by them. They see not that beauty and excellence in them, which actually exists, and which would captivate their minds, could the veil once be removed. And if the doctrines of the Bible were presented in their true light by all its professed teachers, divested of every shade of coloring by which the art of man has dimmed its sacred pages, this veil would soon be removed, and the people would be brought out of their moral darkness, and relieved of their doubts, fears, and distress, that have long enslaved them.

That the teachings of the ministry, from the falling away spoken of by the Apostle Paul, down to the present time, have been clothed in a network of mystery artfully devised and woven by man, permitting the veil of Romanism to continue over the minds of the great mass to a lamentable extent, is evident to every enlightened thinking person. The Apostles foresaw this state of things, but evinced by their untiring efforts, faith, and zeal, that the truth would finally prevail. And I ask, Has not that time come? Has not the church too long been struggling for the blessed rays

of eternal truth to dawn unobstructedly upon and direct them, through this dark valley into the port of divine light and life? The experience of your humble servant, who was led by a desire for truth only, to lay aside all commentaries, traditions, and inferences of erring man, and make that Book alone, which was designed by the Author of all good, his constant study, counsel, and guide, prompts him to assert and defend this fact: and caused him to seek by close application, a means of overcoming this evil, and severing the bonds by which the minds of our ministry and church are fettered.

The obscurities and contradictions contained in the popular Theology, and the mistaking and misapplying of the Scriptures by its Professors, (which have sprung either from the perversion or neglect of the Bible,) and taught in our Seminaries, have caused years of unprofitable study, thereby wasting the time and talents of those who might have been efficient teachers of the Gospel.

Shall these things continue longer? Is there no remedy ? Is it safe for us to fold our arms in repose on the lap of borrowed intelligence, and suffer ourselves to be wafted by the winds of doctrines invented by mortal man, to the very brink of our final destiny? Reader, pause and consider ! For I assure you that those traditions and theories will not suffice for us, since the true light of the Gospel is pouring forth its effulgent rays, illumining the path of truth, in which we may walk in all the "beauty of holiness," and that we should no longer be guided by the opinions of uninspired writers, but that henceforth our temple of truth shall be erected on that firm and enduring foundation laid

by the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief Corner Stone.

If we would obey the commands given to "search out all things, both old and new," and to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling," we must rise above the dictations of priests or fear of man, and with a clear head, like the cloud-piercing Alps, catch and reflect the sunlight of truth, beaming from the infinite Source of righteousness, and thus elaborate and advocate the glorious plan which God devised for the salvation of the human race.

Laboring for the spread of the truth, and for the reform so necessary, and which has already commenced in the Christian world, I wish to impress upon the public mind the necessity of removing those works which subject the Bible student to so much needless labor and doubt, leading him through a labyrinth of mysticism to respect an irrational theory, contrary to correct reasoning, and of providing such only as shall enlighten and strengthen himworks, which having been compared and examined by that light of life, given as a lamp to our path, shine forth, bear. ing the impress of sacred knowledge, and reflecting the true Oracles of God.

We believe this reform will continue until all those who have ears to hear shall hear and understand, and until truth shall penetrate the dark veil which is so closely drawn over the eyes of the church by its mystic teachers, and until every plant which our heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up.

To those who will read this work unprejudiced, we

pledge our aid in removing irrevocably the veil which hides from their view the plain doctrines taught in the Scriptures, and to present them in all their purity, unclothed with theological technicalities and vain philosophy, or any superficial garb of human ingenuity. If the Scriptures are allowed to speak for themselves, they will speak intelligibly to every mind possessed of common intellect, on all subjects upon which they treat. God understands human frailty and the limitation of human knowledge, and he has not undertaken to reveal himself to man, and be his sovereign teacher, without adapting his instructions to the capacity of common minds. This is demonstrated by the persons God chose as the special recipients of his revelation, and mediums of communication to the world. The prophets and apostles were not men distinguished for their intellect, genius, and learning, above their fellows, that entitled them to this distinction, but on the contrary, they were private, unknown, and illiterate men, from the most common families, and had every thing to learn to qualify them for the high post of honor and responsibility in the church of God to which they were called. Says the Apostle: "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God hath chosen the foolish things (or persons,) of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty." It is said that the common people heard Christ gladly, and it was the common people that understood him and became disciples. And it is to the same class that we are to look still, to hear and under: