PREFACE. 



On the leading topics which have divided the Christian world, the author has j 

 formed his own opinion, and has adopted those which he has judged, on the i 

 whole, to be most correct ; but it is of no importance to the reader what thes 

 opinions are, or of what system of speculative theology he is inclined, on th 

 whole, to support. He sets very little value upon purely speculative opinions 

 except in so far as they tend to promote the grand moral objects of Christianity 

 and while he assumes the unalienable right of thinking for himself on the subjec 

 of religion, he is disposed to allow the same privilege to others. He believes 

 on the authority of Scripture, that &quot; God is the Creator of heaven and earth ;&quot; 

 that &quot; he is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works ;&quot; that &quot; he i 

 good to all, and that his tender mercies are over all his works ;&quot; that &quot; he s 

 loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believet, 

 on him might not perish, but have everlasting life ;&quot; that &quot; Christ died for ou 

 sins, that he was buried, and that he rose again from the dead according to th 

 Scriptures;&quot; that &quot; he is the propitiation lor our sins, and that he ever live 

 to make intercession ;&quot; together with all the other facts and doctrines wit 

 which these are essentially connected. But he views the recognition of suci 

 doctrines and facts not as the end of religion, but only as the means ly whici 

 the great moral objects of Christianity are to be promoted and accomplished. 



In illustrating the moral state of the world, the author is sorry that he wa 

 obliged to compress his details within so narrow tints. Few readers, however 

 will appreciate tne labour and research he was unuer the necessity of bestowing 

 in order to select and arrange the facts which he has detailed. He ha 

 occasionally had to condense a long history or narrative, and even a whole 

 volume, into the compass of two or three pages; and to search through rhor 

 than twenty volumes, in order to find materials to fill a couple of pages. Wit] 

 the same degree of research, (excepting the mechanical labour of transcription, 

 he might have filled several volumes with similar illustrations ; and he 

 convinced that a work of this description, judiciously executed, would prove 

 highly instructive, as well as entertaining, not only to the Christian world, bu 

 to readers of every description. 



Various topics connected with the philosophy of religion still r*oam to be 

 illustrated. These shall form the subject of discussion in a future **)iume 

 should the present work be received with general approbation. 



PERTH, January, 1826. 



