PREFACE. THE history of the following remarkable productions of their illustrious author's mind, may be very briefly told. They were written some time ago, with the kind intention of serving a youthful friend, then pursuing his theological studies; but without the slightest idea that they would ever meet the public eye. Circumstances, however, which have occurred since that period, induced the gentleman for A 2 whom they were composed, to request the author's permission to publish them for his own benefit, which was cordially granted. In these Discourses, the reader will find some of the most momentous questions which can exercise the human mind, discussed with great eloquence, ingenuity, and force of argument. Yet it was not without a strong feeling of diffidence, that the writer consented to lay before the public this new and striking proof of the strength and versatility of his genius, as will appear from the following Extract of a Letter. "THE Religious Discourses which you call to my mind, were written entirely for |