IT IS WITH MUCH PLEASURE THE EDITOR IS ABLE TO LAY BEFORE THE PUBLIC, THIS LITTLE VOLUME, WHICH CONTAINS SO MUCH IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING MATTER. -- THE VARIOUS PIECES WHICH ARE PUBLISHED, ARE DERIVED FROM SOURCES, WHICH HE DEEMS SUFFICIENT TO STAMP AUTHENTICITY UPON THEM. WHILE THE MOUTHS OF DEISTS AND INFIDELS ARE OPENED AGAINST THE IMPORTANT TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL, AND ARE READY TO VILIFY THINGS OF A SERIOUS NATURE, IN MANY INSTANCES; YET, IN THIS PRESENT DISPLAY OF INFINITE POWER AND MAJESTY, IF THEY ARE NOT DEVOID OF EVERY PRINCIPLE OF CANDOR, WHEN THEY CONSIDER FROM WHOM THE DIFFERENT LETTERS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, THE SIMPLE MANNER IN WHICH SOME OF THE MOST INTERESTING ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN NARRATED -- THEY MUST, IF NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT TO BE OF GOD, AT LEAST BE SILENT ON THE SUBJECT. SOME OF THE WISE AND MOST SAGACIOUS AMONG THEM HAVE GONE TO THOSE RELIGIOUS MEETINGS WITH A DETERMINATION OF OPPOSING EITHER BY WORD OR ACTIONS, THE BLESSED WORK -- THEY HAVE RAISED THEIR POOR FEEBLE ARMS AGAINST THE OMNIPOTENT -- AND THE BLESSED JEHOVAH, INSTEAD OF MAKING THEM MONUMENTS OF HIS DISPLEASURE THROUGH ETERNAL AGES, HAS TAKEN THEM INTO HIS FAMILY, AND MADE THEM HEIRS OF AN INCORRUPTIBLE INHERITANCE, AND REWARDED THEM GOOD FOR THEIR ABOMINABLE EVIL -- THEY HAVE FALLEN IN HIS PRESENCE, AS STRUCK WITH THE LIGHTNING OF HEAVEN, AND BEEN RAISED WITH A SONG OF PRAISE AND GRATITUDE BY TASTING THE SALVATION OF THE LORD. SOME OF THEIR ACQUAINTANCES HAVE, WHEN THEY HEARD OF THEIR FRIEND'S IMPRESSION, COME IN NUMBERS TO THE GROUND TO POUR A VOLLEY OF CONTEMPT AND RIDICULE ON THEIR COMPANION, AND LAUGH AT THE LORD -- BUT HE, IN INFINITE MERCY LAID THEM ON THE GROUND WITH THEIR DESPISED COMPANION, AND MADE THEM ALSO THE SUBJECTS OF HIS GRACE.

THE EDITOR IS UNDER OBLIGATIONS TO A NUMBER OF THE RESPECTABLE CLERGY OF DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS, AND ALSO PRIVATE CHRISTIANS FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN RENDERING HIS LITTLE PUBLICATION DESERVEDLY ACCEPTABLE. -- HE HAS ONLY TO ADD, THAT THE PIECES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED AS THEY HAVE BEEN HANDED TO THE PRESS, AND OF COURSE A PERFECT ARRANGEMENT OF THEM COULD NOT BE EXPECTED. HE LEAVES IT IN THE HANDS OF HIS GOD, TO USE IT FOR HIS GLORY -- AND SHOULD BUT ONE SOUL BE BENEFITED, HE WILL CONSIDER HIMSELF AMPLY REPAID FOR ANY EXERTIONS IN PRESENTING THE PUBLICATION TO HIS FELLOW-SINNERS.

THE EDITOR.