PREFACE.

A NEW edition being called for of the three volumes, 1st, On some Peculiarities of the Christian Religion; 2d, On some of the Difficulties in the Writings of the Apostle Paul; 3d, On the Errors of Romanism as traced to their origin in Human Nature; I have availed myself of this occasion to make a small alteration in the form in which they are presented to the Public, so as to exhibit more clearly— as I now think ought to have been done originally the kind and degree of connexion of each Series with the others, and the plan on which each was composed.

a 2

(RECAP)

239054

On each of the three occasions on which I was appointed to the office of Select Preacher before the University, I judged it best that the Discourses (usually from six to eight) which it came to my turn to deliver, should be not insulated and unconnected with each other, but a series, confined to some one subject or class of subjects; which might thus be the more likely to suggest to the hearers a train of profitable reflections. The substance of the Sermons delivered on the first of these occasions I threw into the form of Essays, and published under that title. favourable reception of that volume led to the subsequent publication of another Series of Essays, containing the substance of Sermons delivered on the second occasion of my holding the office. On the third occasion, though I published, as before, the substance of the Discourses delivered from the University-pulpit, I was induced so far to depart-injudiciously, as I now think-from the former plan, as

The

to designate as Chapters" those portions of the work, which, according to the analogy of the other volumes, would have naturally been called "Essays." This dif ference, in itself trifling, was not unlikely to lead to the supposition of its being a work of a much more distinct character from the former two than in fact it is. And the title of it also, which I was persuaded, somewhat against my own judgment, to adopt, led some perhaps to conclude that it was one of the many controversial treatises which appeared about that time, on what was called "the Catholic-question."

66

The title however-ill-chosen as it may have been-it is now too late to alter: but I have taken the liberty of changing the designation of "Chapters" for that of 'Essays," and of calling the volume a Third Series of Essays, in order to point out that it has the same kind of analogy to the former two as those have to each other; each of the three containing,

respectively, the substance of a Course of University-sermons; in all of which alike I have carefully abstained from political discussions, and from matters of local or transient controversy; confining myself to questions purely religious, and which appeared to me of intrinsic and permanent importance.

Besides the alteration just alluded to, I have introduced some slight corrections, chiefly verbal, into the present edition; adding also, in a few places, such further explanations and illustrations as appeared requisite, compressing such parts as would admit of it-and omitting whatever, either from its referring to local or temporary circumstances, or for any other reason, could without detriment be spared.

In reference to the various replies,criticisms strictures-&c. directed against what I have advanced, which have appeared from time to time, and to which