The Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Body Asserted and Defended

BT871

Entered according to the act of Congress, in the year 1846, by PERKINS & PURVES,

in the office of the Clerk of the District Court for the Eastern District

Pennsylvania.

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE work here submitted to the public, was ready for the press in March last. But soon after preparing it, the author learned from Professor Bush that he was about to issue other works in defence of the positions assumed in the Anastasis: * and therefore concluded to delay the publication until he should have an opportunity to consider them. In consequence, however, of a severe and protracted illness, he could not do this until late in the fall: when, upon perusing the works referred to, he found nothing that required any formal distinct notice whatever. They contain little else than repetitions of what is asserted in the Anastasis.

With regard to the style of the present work, the author would say that he has aimed only at clearness and brevity: for he cannot see that in the estimation of thinking minds, his argument would derive any advantage from being expressed in a strain of fervid declamation, and in beautifully rounded and polished periods. In aiming at clearness, however, he has endeavoured to express himself not only so as to be understood, but so as not to be misunderstood. In doing this, he is aware that he has sometimes repeated the same word or phrase (even in close connexion) rather oftener than either the Roman or Scottish rhetorician would have sanctioned.

In consequence of the author's distance from Philadelphia, (and the uncertainty of the transmission by mail, especially in the winter,) his friend, Dr. E. S. Ely, kindly consented to assist him in the labour of revising the proofs, for which favour he would take the present opportunity of expressing his obligations and gratitude. And in looking over the sheets (which are printed with singular accuracy), the author has discovered no errata which need be specified, save that on p. 59, in stating a hypothetical case he remarked that in Gen. i. 2, was used in the hithpael, when he should have said piel: and on p. 184, xn is used for 4vxixòs in one instance, and xixòv. Other errata will doubtless be discovered; but he is assured that those (at least) of his brethren

Yuxixòs also for

who are engaged in the arduous duties of the gospel ministry, will know how to palliate them.

The author hopes that the reader will excuse the appearance of the Hebrew character, as also the absence of the points in the quotations from the Old Testament. The Hebrew and Greek originals have been also generally excluded, as well as those of the Latin and German, from a desire that the present volume should not in bulk exceed that of Professor Bush.

The author, in justice to himself, ought also, perhaps, here to state why he has not noticed more specifically the construction of Job xix. 25-27, which is presented in the late excellent work of Mr. Barnes. He had endeavoured, by sending to New York soon after the work was announced, to procure a copy of it, but in vain; and was therefore compelled to proceed without it. But he finds, however, that he has anticipated and replied to every thing offered by Mr. Barnes against the ordinary rendering of that celebrated passage.

While the Anastasis was passing through the press, Professor Bush politely transmitted to the author the sheets containing the more important branches of the argument. These he perused with deep interest, and with a strong impression that the Professor's book required to be promptly met and answered. And being satisfied that its principles, if received, would be most pernicious in their influence upon American theology, he concluded to put down his thoughts upon the subject while it was fully before his mind; and if, in the meantime, no reply should appear, to give them to the public. The labour of doing so, taken in connexion with the arduous duties of an extensive pastoral charge, has been greater than he anticipated; but as no reply to the Professor has appeared, occupying the ground herein occupied, he hopes that his labour. has not been altogether in vain.

Having prepared his little volume in the humble hope that it may tend somewhat to counteract the errors which it controverts, the author, in submitting it to the public, earnestly commends it to the blessing of the Great Head of the Church, (without whose favour all our efforts are vain!) with the fervent prayer also that both the writer and reader may be guided into the saving knowledge of all essential truth.

Książki