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this place, to state that I do not take "the Word of God" to be the writings of the Old and New Testament. And for these reasons, viz.—in the first place, it is giving them a title which they not only do not appropriate to themselves, but which they invariably and exclusively apply to Him "who was in the beginning with God, and without whom there was not anything made that is made." And, in the second place, it is not only the misappropriation of a name, but it is confounding things which are, in their nature, essentially distinct and separate from each other. "In the beginning," writes the Apostle John, "was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, the same was in the beginning with God." And again— the Word was MADE FLESH and dwelt amongst us, and we beheld his glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth," and "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." And in the First Epistle of John-" For there are Three that bear record in heaven-the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one." And in Revelations, we read-" And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God." I have given these quotations as "" a reason for the hope that is in us." Now I earnestly entreat that every individual, into whose hands this little book may fall, to look at these passages individually and collectively, as though (if it be possible,) it were the first time their eyes had ever beheld them, and then tell me if the Society of Friends, without adducing anything farther, have not scriptural authority and rea

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son for appropriating the term "The Word of God," solely to Him" who was in the beginning with God?” Can all, or any of the high attributes and things which are here related of Him" who liveth for ever and ever," be predicated of the Scriptures, either as a whole or in part, from the first chapter of Genesis to the last of Revelations ? Will any man affirm of the Scriptures that they are one with God-will he affirm of the Scriptures, in this passage, that they are synonymous with "The Word?" Will any man affirm of the Scriptures that they are" that light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world?"-will he affirm that the Scriptures are "The Word," which the Apostle John says is that light which enlighteneth EVERY MAN that cometh into the world? Will any man affirm of the Scriptures that they were made flesh, and dwelt among us," and that the glory of the Scriptures was beheld " as of the glory of THE ONLY BEGOTTEN of the Father, full of grace and truth?" Will any man affirm of the Bible, that it "was in the beginning with God," and that it "was God?" Hardly, I think. Yet such, according to the Bible's own testimony, must be affirmed of the Bible, IF the Bible be "the Word of God;" for "The Word," we are told, is "The ONLY BEGOTTEN:" and if the Only Begotten, there can be no other. Nor is the Bible in the least undervalued, its authority impaired, or the weight and excellency of its precious truths diminished, by not giving it a title which it nowhere gives itself. He who sincerely believes that "All Scripture was given by inspiration of God, as holy men of old were moved by the Holy Ghost," will not feel inclined to view the Bible as a "mere written book"-to deride

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its authority-to spurn its counsel to despise its warnings to refuse its consolations, and trample under foot the glorious promises and blessed hopes that it holds forth. I think it unnecessary to dwell any longer on this point at the present, as I shall probably have to recur to it in the course of this work; but I cannot quit it even here without again urging the entreaty, for my readers to peruse, with attention, impartiality, and desire of truth, the passages I have adduced hereon. Have we authority from these passages, or from any others throughout the Bible, to designate it by that term which is used therein to denominate The Only Begotten of the Father?" Do the words, I say, warrant any other application of the peculiar and expressive term The Word," than in the only scriptural sense in which they are there used? Can, or could, anything but "controversy," improperly termed "religious controversy," have ever put any other construction upon them?

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I am now, perhaps, arrived at the most proper place for stating that my principal reason for appearing before the public anonymously, is, that I believe more good will be thus effected than with my name annexed. In a work of this description, it is more the character of the principle than of the author that should be sought for. I wish to see the truth prevail, and I am convinced that a more careful enquiry, and a more just and impartial judgment will be obtained than if the name of the author were made known. I wish that spirit to be exercised and brought to the investigation of these pages "which knows how to distinguish what is just in itself, from what is merely accredited by illustrious

names," even so far as to " adopt a truth that no one may have sanctioned, and reject an error, of which all approve, with the same calmness as if no judgment were opposed to its own." My name, if it appeared, might have weight-my character and station might be a passport with some for my opinions, for aught that can now be said. They might, on the contrary, be of no weight, or, they might be worse than none; they might prove a stumbling block, and stone of offence" to the Truth itself. As it is, none of these things are likely to occur. I therefore send it forth for such as it may be worth in the sight of Him "who weigheth the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance:" and being so weighed, may it not "be found wanting." May the heart of him who writes, and of them who read, be alike endued with grace and understanding to distinguish the "precious from the vile;" and in the beautiful words of the poet, may we put up the petition,

"What in me is dark,

Illumine; what is low, raise and support!"

CHAPTER II.

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THE article which stands first in these Extracts," is one "from the Scottish Congregational Magazine for March, 1835;-article, Review of the 'Beacon,' &c.An article written in a less scornful spirit perhaps than any of the rest. It commences, by introducing the

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Beacon " to the notice of its readers, and after alluding in complimentary terms, rather than otherwise, to the Society of Friends, it goes on to state that "their (the Friends') SECTARIAN PECULIARITIES, (we use the term in no invidious and illnatured sense) are calculated, as not a few of the more evangelically serious and spiritually-minded among themselves are abundantly sensible, to engender a spirit of pharisaical self-estimation, that is far from being in harmony with the lowly-mindedness of the gospel:—and this tendency is increased by the very virtues for which they are distinguished,—by their high average character as a body, for truth and integrity, for simplicity and humanity, and other commendatory excellencies. They are in imminent peril of loving the praise of men more than the praise of God' of being more solicitous to maintain their reputation in the world, than humbly to approve themselves to their divine Master; and cherishing the delusive imagination, that what procures them the estimation of their fellow

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