TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. The Discussion Amicale, a translation of which is now respectfully presented to the public, was first published in 1817,-a second edition appeared in 1824. The more than ordinary excellence of this controversial work has never been disputed either by friend or foe; and its substantial merit, original style and manner, and peculiar applicability to the English nation have for some years caused numerous highly respectable individuals to wish that it might appear in our own language. Latterly this wish has become more emphatically expressed, in consequence of the appearance of the Difficulties of Romanism, a work written by the great champion of Protestantism, the Rev. G. S.. Faber, of Long-Newton, professing to be a fair exposure and complete refutation of the Discussion Amicale. As this book of Difficulties seemed calculated to give a very illusory idea of the general character of the volumes it attacked; as it evidently suppressed some of the most powerful arguments therein contained, and mutilated or distorted others; as it undeniably gave, in some instances, a most grossly false translation of very important passages, and on this false interpretation raised no small proportion of its arguments; it was thought very desirable that the Bishop of Strasbourg's original work should be fairly and strictly rendered into English, and thus appear in its own defence, that the purely English reader might be enabled to form a more correct estimate of its character and merits. The translator here begs leave to state, that he has followed his author throughout with timorous scrupulosity, perhaps with servility; and that, if he has erred, he has done so involuntarily, his only object in undertaking his arduous task having been to aid the cause of truth, justice and Religion. Within the last month has been published the Bishop of Strasbourg's Answer to the Difficulties of Romanism, translated by the Rev. F. C. Husenbeth of Cossey. In this Answer, as well as in Mr. Faber's Book, frequent reference is made to the French Discussion Amicale. For the convenience of the readers of either work, who may not possess the original French, the following tables of references are subjoined, to shew the correspondent references in the present translation. p. 187..Vol. II. p. 242, 243 note.. Vol. II. p. 211, 212 note p. 188.. Vol. II. p. 243 note p. 197..Vol. II. p. 247 p. 199..Vol. II. P. 248 p. 199..Vol. II. p. 243 note p. 216..Vol. II. p. 265-275 p. 223..Vol. II. p. 274, 275 p. 225..Vol. II p. 279 p. 227..Vol. II. p. 282 p. 243. .Vol. II. p. 309 p. 249..Vol. II. p. 309 p. 256..Vol. II. p. 326 (323) p. 263.. Vol. II, 359 P. p. 265.. Vol. II. P. 351 p. 274.. Vol. II, p. 354 p. 280..Vol. II. p. 372 373 p. 353.. Vol. II. p. 301 p. 355..Vol, 1I. p. 324 p. 356. Vol. II .p. 403 p. 356.. Vol. 1. p. 5 ..Vol. II. P. 212 note ..Vol. II. p. 215 ..Vol. II. p. 216, 217 ..Vol. II. p. 212 note .. Vol. II. p. 231-240 ..Vol. II. p. 240 ..Vol. II. p. 244 ..Vol. II. P. 247 ..Vol. II. p. 271 .. Vol. II. p. 271 ..Vol. II. p. 283, 284 ..Vol. II. p. 315 ..Vol. II. p. 308, 309 .. Vol. II. p. 310 ..Vol. II. p. 327, 328 ..Vol. II. p. 263, 264 ..Vol. II. p. 285 .. Vol. II. P. 354 .. Vol. I. p. 5, 6 TABLE OF REFERENCES For the Answer to the Difficulties of Romanism. p. 397..Vol. 11. p. 259 Appendix..Vol. II. p. 226 p. 405..Vol. II. p. 254, 5, 6 p. 414. .Vol. II. p. 309 p. 415..Vol. 11. p. 315 .. Vol. II. p. 222, 223, 224 ..Vol. II. P. 272 ... Vol. II. p. 277 p. 445. . Vol. II. p. 409, 410, 411.. Vol. II. p. 133 and Vol. I. and Vol. I. p. 149, 150, 162, 163 p. 134, 146, 147 |