THE writer of the following pages claims no fuperiority to others, either in genius or learning; but he claims a right to judge for himself in matters of faith, and the fenfe of Scripture, and prefumes to exercife it-calling no man matter. He hath found the original fcriptures, compared with the different tranflations, to be the best expofition. To thefe he early had recourfe, and in this way formed an opinion of the meaning of fundry difficult paffages in the volume of truth. But comparing them afterwards with feveral expofitions, perceived their meaning to have been mistaken, either by thofe writers, or by himself. As they did not convince him that his conftructions were erroneous, he now of fers them to the public---Not as certainly devoid of error--He knows himself to be fallible-- but as the refult of fome attention; and as that which he conceives their most probable meaning. ON the prayer of Mofes to be blotted out of God's book--the wish of Paul to be accurfed from Chrift, and the prevalence of infidelity before the coming of the Son of Man, he published a fummary of his views, fome years ago. By the advice of feveral refpected literary friends, they are now corrected, enlarged and inferted. On the last of these he wrote A. D. 1785. Subfequent events tend to confirm him in the Sentiments then entertained. Expofitors generally confid er the prayer of Mofes and the wish of St. Paul to ftand related as expreffions of the fame temper, and argue from the one to the other. The author conceives them perfectly for eign to each other, and totally mistaken by every expofitor he hath confulted as alfo Several of the other fcriptures on which he hath written. A HINT dropped, fome years ago, in converfation, by a refpected father, gave an opening to the writer, relative to one of the following fubjects, and occafioned his writing upon it. For the rest, he is confcious of having borrowed from no writer, except a few quotations, which are credited in their places. He doth not flatter himself that his confiructions of Scripture will be univerfally received. Nor hath he a defire to dictate to others, or a wish that his own views only fhould fee the light. The prefs is open to those who are otherwife minded. The author will read with pleasure, the different conftructions of the candid and ingenuous. But fhould strictures of another defcription appear, they will be viewed with indifference, and treated with neglect. * Rev. Dr. Cogfwell, of Windham. On 2 Samuel xii. 12 PAGE. Divine Impartiality Confidered. ROM. ii. 11. For there is no reffect of perfons with God. Mofes' Prayer to be Blotted out of God's Book. Characters will be Difclofed and Justice Awarded. 211 Balak's Inquiries relative to the Service of God, and Balaam's Anfwer briefly confidered. The Fear which terminates in the Second Death. 267 The Ends of Family Inftitution, with Obfervations on The Good Man Ufeful in Life and Happy in Death. Departed Saints Fellow Servants with thofe on Earth 344 REV. xxii. 9.-I am thy fellow fervant, and of thy brethren the The Danger of Deviating from Divine Inflitutions. 366 COL. ii. 8.---Beware left any man fpoil you through Philofo- The Sins of Communities Noted and Punished. MAT. xxiii. 36.---Verily I fay unto you, all these things fhall |