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AT the commencement of a periodical work,

it is customary to give fome account of its object and of the plan on which it is to be conducted. In compliance with this custom, and to make the public acquainted, as much as is neceffary, with their fentiments, the Editors of the Advocate of Revealed Truth and Inspector of the Religious World, prefix this introductory address.

The object of the work is explained, in a great degree, by its title. But it may be expedient to state it more at large. It is fimply this; to vindicate the truth as it is in Chrift Jefus, by removing from it those disguises by means of which its enemies have endeavoured to conceal its excellency and importance: to feparate it from every human device, by drawing a clear line of diftinction

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between

between it and all those delufions and abfurdities, which wicked men, under the influence of him who has been a liar from the beginning, have invented, and called by its name, and impofed upon the world in its ftead: in a word, to exhibit it in its native fimplicity; without prefuming to make any addition by way of ornament or re commendation, or to conceal any part of it, through fear of giving offence.

In the profecution of this attempt, the Editors will naturally be led, not only to declare their own fentiments concerning divine truth, but also to review the principles and conduct of, what is usually called, the Religious World. Accordingly they will animadvert occafionally on the various religious publications which are daily fent out into the world and more especially on the productions of those, who, from their rank or talents, or any other circumstance, are likely to find numerous readers :—and they will alfo, as opportunity fhall offer, obferve and difcufs the principles, by which the different affociations and public bodies, inftituted for religious purposes, appear to be influenced.

In their remarks on every subject that may come before them, they will use the greatest freedom. It is their object, not to conciliate the public favour, or to get for themselves a great name; but, for the advantage of mankind, to bring forward into more general notice that word which is Truth. They will not therefore be deterred, by the frowns of the enemies of that word, from the faithful discharge of the duties belonging to the office they have undertaken : no;-regardless of the confequences, they will endeavour, with ftrict impartiality, to render to every man his due; praife to whom praife is due,

.and

and cenfure to whom cenfure ;-defiring to have their judgments regulated by the word of God. To this alone they will have refpect; to this they defire to pay implicit deference; acknowledging no other standard of truth, no other rule of conduct. By this word they mean to try all things; and to reject and expose, as error and delufion, whatever is not agreeable thereto, however highly efteemed it may be amongst men; remembering that what is most highly efteemed amongst men, is abomination in the fight of God—and that, if any man Speak not according to the law and to the teftimony, it is because there is no light in him. It is almoft needless to add, that by the fame standard to which they mean to bring the fentiments of others, they are willing to have their own tried: indeed they are earneftly defirous to have the principles, they shall bring forward, difcuffed; perfuaded that their caufe cannot fuffer by it, for it is the cause of truth. But that their readers may be qualified to decide what is. truth, they must search the fcriptures.

They are aware that this is an arduous undertaking. They have viewed the difficulties, and the queftion, who is fufficient for these things?. has fuggefted itself to their minds. But every confideration of the magnitude of the work, and of their own infufficiency vanishes, in the view of the command, contend earnefily for the faith once delivered to the faints. To him who has iffued this command, even to the Father of Lights, with whom is the refidue of the Spirit, they look for wifdom and for ftrength. Though they be weak, they have a good hope that their labour will not be in vain: for God hath chofen the foolish things of the world to confound the wife;

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and

and the weak things of the world, to confound the things which are mighty.

They have determined not to confine themfelves to any fixed plan in this work, but to be regulated by circumftances. In general their numbers will be made up of Original Effays; Extracts from authors little known; Reviews of Religious Publications; Articles of Biblical Criticism; and Intelligence of the Tranfactions of the Religious World, accompanied with fuch obfervations as may be neceffary.

The names of the authors from whofe works they fhall take extracts, will be given at the end of each Volume. And here they deem it neceffary to obferve, that they are not to be confidered as having adopted, or as pledged to fupport all the fentiments of any writer from whom they give extracts; but only thofe immediately contained in fuch extracts.

And now, praying for the divine bleffing on their work, they fend forth the firft number of it into the world. They defire to feel no anxiety about its fate; but to commit it entirely unto him, to declare whofe name and to vindicate whofe honour, is, they truft, their, grand object in undertaking it. Whatever may be its fate, may HIS WORD have free courfe and be glorified! his NAME be hallowed! All to whom it has been given to know him as God the juftifier of the ungodly, will unite in faying-Amen.

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