452° 
Dr. Less’s Work on Religion. ' 
[june 1, 
Muszus de Herone et Leandro a Barthio, 8vo.; Nature,” nor the sneers of Voltaire, have 
Amberg. 1608. 
Cum notis Roveri. vo. L. Bat. 1727. 
mew €x recensione Schroderi, 8vo. Leovard. 
1743, an excellent edition. 
For Alczus—Vide inter Poetas Lyricos diver- 
sarum edit. Geneve. ol. and 24to. 
Sappho, Gr. and Lat. Notis Var. and Chr. 
Woifli. Hamburg 1752, 4to. 
Inter novem Feminarum Grecarum Carmina. 
Grace, cura Fulvii Ursini. 
. Ap. Piantin. 1598, 8vo. 
: a 
To the Editor of the Monihly Magazine. 
SIR, ; 
HE attention of the public was 
cailed to the writings of Dr. Less, 
by Dr. H. Marsh, in his translation of 
Michielis; and it is to be lamented, for 
the sake of religion, that we have not 
hitherto had that excellent German au- 
thor introduced to us in an English dress. 
Although a voluminous writer, he is de- 
Serving of all possible attention, for his 
learning, piety, and impartiality ; and I 
cannot but think, that a full trans!ation 
of his two volumes upon rehgion would 
be generally well received. The first 
volume is entitled, Uber die Religion, 
thre Geschichte, Ww ah], und Bestatigung,” 
The second has, in addition to the above, 
the following title, “ Wahrheit der 
Christlichen Religion.” I havé in my 
possessiow the 2d edition of 1786, pub- 
lished at Gottingen. To give some idea 
of the author, permit me to beg your in- 
sertion of the following translation, &c. 
November, 1808. A. W.. E. 
Translation of the preface to the 5th 
edition of Dr. Less, *‘ Upon Religion.” 
_ After having, for the three and twenty 
years of my ministry in this place (Gor 
tingeh) and at Dantzic, contemplated 
and experienced the ebb and flow of 
haman opinions, as well within my own 
breast, as in that of other men; aiter 
having undertaken every kind of proof, 
examination, and thorough discussion of 
the contents of that religion, which f 
profess, I conceive it wili not be.super- 
fluous in this last, and more finished state 
of my work, to explain in few words the 
sentiments ’ resulting to me from the 
whole. ~ ” 
- My belief of the Pit Ait of pure na- 
tural religion has been, throughout my 
life, so firm and anual as never to 
have been once interrupted. — Neither 
the. sophistry of .the ‘‘Systéme de. la - 
made me waver, oreven pause for a mo-' 
ment. This, with the most Jiumble gra- 
titude, I reg anil as one of the greatest 
kindnesses of Providence. Genuine 
christian morality, T have not only never’ 
disputed ; but its sublimity, and majesty, 
and saving truths bave, as it were, daz- 
gled my sight; and Ifiave never seriously 
considered it, without. the most earnest 
wish to binsiie altogether sucha person, 
in heart and conduct, as its influence is 
capable of effecting jn all., But of the 
mysterious doctrines oi theoretical chris- 
tianity, there is not one, I rejoice to say 
it, which has not in due order occupied 
my doubts. There have been periods of 
my life, when the tenets of the supreme 
divinity of Jesus Christ, and of the Holy 
Ghost, as-well as of the meritorious sa- 
tisfaction of the Redeemer, appeared to 
me so unscriptural, and improbable, that 
for some successive years I declined ex- 
pressing myself upon the doctrinal points 
of our religion. For I have always con- 
sidered it as particularly base and, 
treacherous, to propound any thing as 
-truth, or rather as religious truth, which | 
a man does not believe himself, and 
which he almost regards as false. I re- 
peated my investigation from time to. 
time, Soeedan on’ the: setiptural autho- 
rity of these doctrines. And, the greater 
advances I inade in knowledae, the more 
I was convinced that it is only the igno- 
rant and unreasonable, who reject any 
thing, merely because they do not com- 
prehend it. My doubts continued some 
years longer, and were in some measure 
increased, Tu the mean time, however, 
I became’ gradually better acquainted 
with the real’ sense of those doctrines, 
and discovered that they admitred of a 
very ‘rational, and generally useful ex- 
position. “Nothing, however, gave me so 
clear an insight into them, as the: reading 
of thé New Testament in the hour of 
solitary morning devotion. Tt was un- 
der these circumstances, when I could 
have no determinate object, upon which 
to institute learned enquiries; when’ I 
perused the expressions of our Re- 
deemer, and his.apostles, in succession, 
and with the context; and when I com- 
pletely opened my heart asd under- 
standing to embrace the light and life of | 
heavenly revelations; that I have prin- 
cipally collected the ‘whole store of my - 
more elevated and blessed truths: And 
it was under the same circumstances, 
that my scruples imperceptibly vanished 
with 
