EXPOSITORY LECTURES. LECTURE I. INTRODUCTORY. 1 PETER, III. 15. BE READY ALWAYS TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO EVERY ONE THAT ASKETH YOU A REASON OF THE HOPE THAT IS IN YOU, WITH MEEKNESS AND FEAR. Ir is now nine years since I gave a course of doctrinal lectures in this church. It is my present purpose to give another of a similar kind, though on a somewhat different plan. I do it from no love of controversy, nor because I am fond of bringing forward our peculiar views of Christian doctrine. If circumstances were different, I should forbear to do so. If our peculiar views were generally known and understood,- if they were fairly represented even, there would not be the same necessity. But as it is, they are both misconceived and misrepresented. There is scarcely a pulpit in the land, where the sentiments we cherish are not denounced and condemned, and that to people who have no means of knowing them, except these unfair and denunciatory statements. While this is the case, I hold it to be our duty, from time to time, publicly to state and defend our doctrines, to discuss candidly, fairly, and fully the questions, which have been raised between us and other denominations of Christians. We can conceive of no rational objection to this. We should imagine that all fair-minded men, who have often heard us censured, would gladly embrace the opportunity of hearing our defence, that by knowing the arguments on both sides, they might have the means of making up their own judgments. Any unwillingness to do this, must arise either from a distrust of what they have already embraced as truth, or from the claim of infallibility. If a man feels a fear lest his opinions may be shaken, what is this but a confession that he already suspects that they are unsound? He is already a doubter. Does he feel confident of his infallibility? Who can claim infallibility in this imperfect state? Who has so much light on any subreceive no more? "Prove all. "Hold fast that which is ject, that he can Periodical discussion of the great questions of religion is needed by the rising generation. No one who has not carefully noted. the quick succession of the periods of human life, has any idea of the rapidity with which an entire new race comes forward upon the stage. The whole generation now under nine years of age, were of course unborn when I delivered the last course of doctrinal lectures in this church. Those under that age, were too young to take any interest in |