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DEDICATION.

THE Publishers of this work would respectfully dedicate it to Christians of all denominations-believing it will stand the ordeal of the most rigid criticism,—and the surer test of the day of judgment. If the doctrines herein stated are true, it follows that the inherent immortality of man is a stupendous fiction, unsupported by the analogy of nature, or a particle of evidence from the scriptures of truth. If these things be so-It is time for the world to know it-and let him who readeth understand-that it is written,―That "whosoever shall add unto the words of the revelation of the blessed Lord shall be added unto him the plagues that are written therein—and whosoever shall take away-God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and the Holy City." Amen.

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PREFACE.

In offering to the public another volume on the subject of Future Punishment it will be necessary to prefix only a few explanatory observations, since much of what might have been presented in a preface has been introduced into the body of the work, as occasion was judged to require.

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In the summer of 1844, the "Notes of Lectures were published at the request of the writer's congregation, to whom they had been delivered in the early part of that year. Of the reception which that little work experienced it needs not to speak. I had counted the cost, and have never regretted the effort. If it has elicited in some quarters that earthly passion which blinds the eye, and beclouds the judgment, and dethrones love, and prompts the unhappy victim to snatch up unhallowed weapons, it has also elicited from others the display of christian graces, which have greatly endeared to me some most honored members of the household of faith, to whom I could wish propriety would allow me publicly to pay that tribute of respect and affection which it would gratify me to offer.

I may however present my praises to the God of all grace, that the work was owned and blessed by him to the conversion of some sinners, and to the edification of not a few amiable christians, whose fervent acknowledgments have more than counterbalanced the blame of others.

Some of my reviewers complained of the comparative "meagreness of the former " Notes," and expressed the

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wish that the Lectures had been given at greater length. I have endeavored to please them in this matter. In the present volume not more than sixty pages of the former edition are retained, constituting chiefly the First Part.

Must I make a distinct reference to the reviewers of the former little work? The following pages will show that I have not been unmindful of their animadversions. But the reader, I am sure, will pardon my declining to notice some critiques that appeared in professedly religious magazines; the writers of which by their forgetfulness of the law of truth, and willingness to resort to misrepresentation and slander, have put themselves out of the pale of honorable controversy, and precluded any notice of their efforts. The endeavor to silence inquiry by unworthy insinuations of Socinianism-Neology-Infidelity-I leave them even to repeat, if such conscious untruthfulness be still congenial with their habits, and compatible with their views of Evangelical religion.

In honorable contrast with these gentlemen is the writer of the article in the Eclectic Review; (as indeed might have been expected from the high character which that journal has so long deservedly sustained, and which in the hands of its present editor it can never lose). To his arguments, forcible in themselves, and so lucidly presented, I have given as was due the most serious attention. And while I have expressed myself frankly on the arguments themselves, I gladly take the opportunity of offering him my respectful acknowledgments for the christian courtesy which characterizes his strictures. If in my rejoinder there be a single expression which is ever so slightly offensive, I request his forgiveness, and assure him that offence was the farthest from my intentions.

If any of my readers are disposed to blame the tone in which I have maintained my own views, and animadverted on those which appear to me erroneous, though popular, let them consider that it does not become the advocates of supposed truth to suppress or disguise their honest convictions. I trust there will be found no imputations on persons; and opinions are fairly open to the freest animad

versions.

I have still a painful sense of the "meagreness" and imperfection of the work. Many of the arguments I should have been glad to present at greater length; while

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not a few, which might have been adduced with advantage, are omitted altogether, in order that the volume might be kept of a reasonable size. There is, however, the less ground of regret since Providence has raised up an aliy whose work, I am given to understand, will issue from the press about the same time as the present volume. I allude to the Rev. E. White of Hereford, who is presenting to the public a work entitled "Life in Christ: or, Immortality the peculiar privilege of the Regenerate.' I am thankfully anticipating its appearance, in the confidence of deriving much pleasure and profit from the perusal, and in the assured expectation that it will aid what I must deem the cause of truth. If I may judge from what I have already seen of that gentleman's productions, his book will, I am sure, be characterised by great vigour of thought, closeness of reasoning, beauty of style, and deep and fervent piety, while its aim and tendency will be to honor the Prince of Life, whom having not seen we love.

To that adorable Saviour, the Head over all things to his Church, I now commend the prevent effort, beseeching a merciful forgiveness for its faults, a happy counteraction of its unconscious errors, and his abundant blessing on its truths.

Should I again intrude on the notice of the public, I hope it will be with some work which will happily remove me from the uncongenial arena of controversy, and which will be devoted to the promotion of that personal piety, the theologia pectoris, which Luther once designated the German theology, but for which our own country has been more distinguished than, (unhappily) of late years, the father-land of the reformation.

H. H. D.

Maidstone, April 14, 1846

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