they can hardly fail to operate prejudicially :-they want only universality of adoption, and stable and honourable reciprocation, to evince their sound political wisdom and beneficial tendency. Let us, by all means, have free trade in the discussion of truth,-of truth of all kinds. And, in regard to Christianity, let all restrictions be taken off, whether of political penalty or of the self-imposed bondage of system, and let the simple and untrammelled appeal be universally made to the Holy Scriptures; and there will be a greater likelihood at least of agreement:-let all, instead of drawing from any human cistern, which, although professing to have been supplied from above, may yet contain some mixtures from below, come with their pitchers to the one reservoir, filled from "the sempiternal source of truth divine;" and they will find and carry off the same waters. If the contents of these Essays have not been drawn from this heavenly source, let them be rejected. We disclaim all authority. There is a style of dictatorial loftiness, and of almost inspired decision, which has been adopted by some of the abettors of the doctrines examined in the Essays, and

by some too of the modern millenarian "school of the prophets," such as no man has had any title to assume, since the "vision and the prophecy were sealed up" in Patmos; and which is as offensive to good taste, as it is inconsistent with the humility of a disciple of Jesus. Away with it. It is not of any man now living, it is of his Apostles and Prophets, who, "being dead, yet speak," that the great Head of the Church has said-" HE THAT HEARETH YOU, HEARETH ME; AND HE THAT DESPISETH YOU, DESPISETH ME, AND HE THAT DESPISETH ME; DESPISETH HIM

ADVERTISEMENT TO THE SECOND EDITION.

THE following little work was published last year in the course of a passing controversy, which then engaged much of the public attention. The controversy itself has, in a great measure, subsided; but the subjects of it have lost none of their intrinsic importance and interest. These are permanent and undiminishing. The Author, aware how naturally works which owe their existence to such a cause are apt to be regarded merely as portions of a transient discussion, and to pass out of remembrance as it dies away, how generally, after having borne their part in the warfare of the day, their fate is, when the din of the fight is over, to be buried in the battle-field, and forgotten,-made it his endeavour to frame the Essays in such a manner, as that, while the reasonings of particular individuals were combated, they might, at the same time, present a connected view of what he conceived to be the doctrine of the divine word on the topics of which they treat. This exposed him to the animadversions of some critics who not adverting to his design, found fault with him for not coming more immediately, in the former of the two Essays, to the precise point of the existing disputation. These critics forgot, that the work was not written for learned theologians merely, who might hasten superciliously over the prefatory matter, as ground with which their minds were intimately familiar, but for those more especially, who required to be led, through the simple elements of truth, to a correct apprehension of the subjects in debate. Many are the controversies, in which every thing depends on a distinct conception of elementary truths; and to no one of them all is the remark more forcibly applicable, than to that respecting "the assurance of faith.”

The work has for a considerable time been out of print,-a large impression having been entirely disposed of. The author is unwilling to allow subjects of such paramount and permanent importance to pass from the public mind as if they were the mere topics of a gladiatorial exhibition on the arena of theological debate. He has assented, therefore, to the wish of his publisher for a second edition; and, with increasing confidence of truth, commends his work anew, in humble dependence, to the blessing of God.

The printing of this edition from the first, without the Author's revision, may have given rise to one or two anachronisms. Thus, in Preface, page 7, reference is made to Mr Erskine's "last publication." The publication intended is "Letters by a Lady, with an introductory essay." More than one have appeared since.

GLASGOW, September 23d, 1831.