tendency, and obvious design of the National Societies, which to some may appear of very subordinate importance, but, in fact, of very great magnitude, if we view all their bearings and consequences. And in this work, the reader will at once possess himself of a valuable mine of information on the subject of the Benevolent Societies of the day, and be naturally assisted in acquiring that accurate perception, which will be his safest guide in selecting charitable objects, upon which to bestow his goods.— But so far from being opposed to Sunday Schools, Bible, Tract, and Missionary Societies, and other schemes for the promotion of religion, or the amelioration of the condition of my fellowbeings, I declare myself to be their avowed friend and supporter. I am opposed to American Societies, because, as Dr. Miller of Princeton, N. J. justly says, they are "IRRESPONSIBLE NATIONAL SOCIETIES." There is the American Bible Society, American Tract Society, American Sunday School Society, American Foreign Missionary Society, American Home Missionary Society, American Education Society, American Peace Society, American Seamen's Friend Society, American Mite Society, American Discipline Society, American Jew Society, &c. &c. All these are but so many tributaries pouring into the NATIONAL AMAZON, which, if not destroyed in some way, will sooner or later, like Noah's flood, inundate this virgin hemisphere, and destroy our peace and happiness forever. This central fountain of sectarian intelligence, is already gushing its waves of unholy impulse in equal measure to the extremities of this continent. These societies have in sacerdotal hands, constituted a kind of mercenary screw, by means of which, more money has been wrenched out of the pockets and purses of the American people, than perhaps all the African slave trade ever has accumulated! The latter dealt in human bones and blood and sinews: the others trade in human souls! The lust of GOLD was the entire object of the one: GOLD and POWER are the objects of the others! These societies are the bulwarks of Presbyterian religion, that is to say, the bulwarks of their meat and bread; the bulwarks of their young ministers living without labor os talents to preach, on the earnings of the more meritorious part of the community. And the reason why these young men, buz and fly about so much like hornets, when any thing is said against these societies is, they know very well, that if these institutions are put down, they will be left in a conditiou similar to that of the buckle-makers when shoe-strings came in vogue, viz, out of business! For like the missionaries sent to labor among the German nations, Bavarians, Saxons, &c. in the

eighth century, they are more zealous in exacting tithes and extending their authority. than in propagating the sublime truths and precepts of the gospel. Or like Charlemagne's zeal for the conversion of the Huns, Frieslanders, and Saxons, they are more animated by the suggestion of ambition, than by a principle of true piety; and like him, their main object in these benev olent exploits is, to subdue the nations under their dominion, and to tame them to their national yoke.

5. It is generally known, and as generally disapproved of too, that the Presbyterian clergy, in order to effect certain important purposes, and at the same time degrade and undervalue the ministers of every other denomination, represent the whole Western country, as being in a state of absolute darkness, without a single token or clue to a better state, and its inhabitants as worshipping an "unknown" or anonymous God! That there is a measure of light among the people of the "Great West," they indeed allow; but like the lurid gleam of a volcano, it is not a light which guides, but which bewilders and terrifies them. Yes, by these men, the veil of oblivion is spread over the better half of the American continent, of which the appalling picture, drawn by the pen of inspiration in the hand of St. Paul, in the first chapter of his Epistle to the Romans, revolting and humiliating as it is, affords but too faithful a portraiture! Indeed, what the apostle there says of certain dignified Grecian philosophers, these men have said of the people of the west:-"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools; and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things!" And even when, by means of the pious instructions of these would-be dictators, it might be said of us, that we "knew God," still we "glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in our imaginations," and our "foolish hearts were darkened;" while we have even "changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the CREATURE more than the CREATOR, who is blessed forever!" The author of this work, therefore, has endeavored to disabuse his brethren and country, as well as testify against every encroachment upon the kingdom of Christ, and its laws and ordinances. But I should be blind indeed, to every thing like understanding, not to be aware, that, in offering this volume to the public, I am exposing myself, little and unknown as I am, to much obloquy. This, however, is with me, a matter of but little consequence. My motives, 1 know, are of the purest kind; and hence, I am willing that the

breath of Calvinian malice should, like the wind, "blow where it listeth," and I shall not pause to enquire "whence it cometh or whither it goeth." My object, then, in furnishing the public with this volume, is, as will appear from its pages, to supply what has long been a desideratum in the department of religious news; and I trust, its circulation among my fellow-citizens, will be as extensive as its importance deserves. The information which it contains, I think, is admirably condensed; while very little extraneous matter has been inserted. On the whole, it is evident that such a work, fair in its statements, judicious in its selections, properly comprehensive in its scope, and every way bold and independent in its aspect, is called for, in this age so pregnant with events. As an individual, I do not profess to be free from all prejudice of education, and from all attachment to creeds, confessions, disciplines, &c. in such a degree as to make it certain that my views may not sometimes be greatly affected by them. I profess to be a sectarian without bigotry, adhering strictly to all the doctrines and usages of the Church to which I belong; yet looking upon every good man as my brother, and regarding him as such, abstract from any particle of sectarian bias. Those who find fault with the doctrines and usages of my church, I am disposed, in obedience to a divine injunction, to rebuke sharply. And indeed, no one is free from this prepossession; though some who have identified themselves with a particular sect, have made, and continue to make pretensions of this kind. Nothing is more sickening to me, than to hear a man, or a sect of people boasting of their "Catholic spirit," or friendly feelings towards all others. The word Catholic, if I understand it, is compounded of two Greek words that signify universal: and to talk about a particular universal sect is absurd-grossly absurd. The inspired penmen alone have succeeded in trampling sectarian bias entirely under foot. That a man is not conscious of being swayed by it, is no proof that it does not exert a powerful influence over him; since it is its nature to blind the eyes of him whose judgment it thus warps. When, therefore, I speak in the indicative mood; and say that this or that means thus and so, the reader will not understand me to intend any thing more than that this is true as I believe:

6. A work of this kind, should indeed, emanate from a mind, rich in its acquaintance with the vast and ever-accumulating stores of knowledge, which criticism, history, and theology in

close in their wide domains. The author of this work, howev er, has never boasted of his genius, of his diligence, of his deep theological research, nor yet, of his critical philological knowledge! Besides this, the work herewith submitted, is not for the instruction of divines, lexicographers, critics, commentators, philosophers and travellers, of all ages and nations; but for the common people of these United States. I have been more concerned about the matter than about the manner, about what I published than about the style in which it should appear, and consequently, my pen has moved in my fingers with very little regard to elegancies. Again, though a lover of order, variety, and of grandeur myself, yet, my style is rugged, inharmonious, irregular, incoherent, and so enfeebled by contraction, that I have desspaired of ever carrying my readers along with that breathless impetuosity, so pecular to the writing of a Wesley, a Fletcher, a Clark, a Baxter, a Watson, or a Bangs. Poor me! Had my style in former days, been more diversified; or had I in the general, abounded more in metaphysics and refinements; or had I Jurked behind the battlements and under the forms of logic and metaphysics; instead of dealing in the most plain terms, I should now have fewer enemies. But alas! my exuberence and redundancy of language, may be justly considered one, among the many other winning ways I have to make folks hate me! But when I write, preach, or converse, I make it a point to call no man master, and to bow the knee to no system as such; nor do I seek the applause or dread the frowns of any. While, then, I meet, perhaps with the approbation of some, I must of course expect the vehement dissent and bitter railings of others. I have made up my mind, therefore, to bear with all this, and to bear with it patiently and firmly; or else it would have been better for me in the end, never to have published.

7. In a work of this kind, no one will expect to find the different articles to be entirely original; and in this volume, they are not all so in whole, though they all are in part. Some, then, of the following chapters are strictly original compositions; others are copied and abridged from the most approved and authentic periodicals of the day, and the whole greatly improved and enlarged by the author. With regard to the sources of informa tion, which I have explored, I acknowledge myself chiefly indebted to the Christian Advocate and Journal, the Methodist Magazine and Quarterly Review, the Holston Messenger, and

the Gospel Herald. Also, I have constantly had before me, while writing, the various Reports, Addresses, Constitutions, &c. of the Societies whose principles are herein investigated; and likewise, the standard writings of those Churches, whose doctrines are herein brought to view. And to accomplish this work, in the midst of so many materials, and of my other pressing and official engagements, in so short a time as I have done, has been to me, no easy task. The Calvinian doctrines herein opposed, have been the grand arena, if I may so express myself, on which theological combatants have been contending, ever since the third century, and perhaps from an earlier period.

I despise the cruelty of the Calvinian system, which, to hush the alarms of guilty man, would rob the Deity of his perfections, and stamp a degrading mockery upon his laws! Calvinism, as Dr. Fisk of New England very justly remarks, assumes a thousand different appearances, equally dangerous and destructive in all its diversified transformations. But time would fail me to tell of the obscurities into which the system runs, but which it is unable to dissipate-of its unresolved doubts-of the mysteries through which it vainly tries to grope its uncertain way-of its weary and fruitless efforts-of its unutterable longings—and, of its soul-shivering dogmas. Calvinism engenders a thousand evil habits which, like the imps of sin in Milton, "Yelp all around it!" But more of this in the sequel.

8. Once more:-In publishing to the world, the result of my investigations on the several subjects herein discussed, I do it, with unfeigned diffidence, and with a trembling sense of the responsibility which I incur by so doing, the opinions of many to the contrary notwithstanding.

I repeat, that in presenting this work to my fellow-citizens, I do it not with a cold indifference, but with my most ardent wishes for their improvement and prosperity; and for the continued increase of the wealth, the learning, and the political, moral and religious elevation of character, and the glory of my countrymy whole country.

I remain, gentle reader,

With the most sincere respect,

Your very humble servant.

Low.

WILLIAM G. BROWNLOW.

B