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in the best possible humor; like the Christian, who knows his cause to be not only good, but incapable of being shaken by any violence of any combination! His great object is, to reclaim, and win over, by kindness, gentleness and truth. To the letters are appended a variety of Notes, embracing valuable illustrations, and much useful information.

We beg leave to recommend it to the patronage of the patriot and christian, and especially to the ladies of the United States, to whom it is dedicated; and who owe an infinite debt of gratitude to the benign influence of Christianity.

New-York, Oct. 12, 1833.

W. C. BROWNLEE.

A LAYMAN'S APOLOGY, &c.—I have cursorily perused "A Layman's Apology," &c., as originally published in the Washington County Post, and feel pleased with the sentiments which pervade it, and the manner in which they are presented. Believing that the republication of the letters of Sherlock, with the proposed notes and illustrations, will subserve the cause of Christianity, I cheerfully recommend them to the patronage of the Christian THOMAS DE WITT. public.

New-York, Oct. 12, 1833.

In the above sentiments I concur.

JOHN KNOX.

IX. The Hon. JAMES KENT, late Chancellor of this state, writes as follows to the author, dated

New-York, Oct. 19th, 1833. DEAR SIR-I have, at your request,"perused the Nine Letters under the signature of "Sherlock," and addressed to "Thomas Herttell, member of assembly for the city of New-York, 1833."

I have been much struck with the fervent piety, extensive research and manly frankness displayed in these letters, as well as with the flowing and eloquent language in which your thoughts are conveyed: but I do not wish to give my indiscriminate approbation of the entire contents of these letters, though, as touching the main points between you and Mr. Herttell, I think you are essentially right, and he is essentially wrong. I am in favor of the very becoming ancient custom of having the daily business of the two houses of the legislature opened with prayer, and the constitutional objection to it has always appeared to me entirely groundless. agree with you, most certainly, in the divine origin and inestimable blessings of Christianity; but I do not wish to give my sanction to every part of your illustrations; and they contain local and personal allusions which I do not assent to. Notwithstanding these objections, I think the work is calculated to do JAMES KENT. good. Very respectfully,

X. The Rev. JOEL PARKER, pastor of the First Free Presbyterian Church in the city of New-York, writes to the author as follows, datedNew-York, 21st Oct., 1833. DEAR SIR-I have just arisen from the perusal of your letters

to Thomas Herttell. I think them well adapted to guard young minds against the specious arguments of infidelity, while the spirit of Christian courtesy which breathes through them, is adapted to lead unbelievers themselves to revise their system, if they may be said to have one. I can cordially recommend this volume to the perusal of my friends, and shall take pleasure in seeing it in the hands of the public as soon as possible.

If Cicero thought his occupation noble because it led him to defend innocence, yours is doubly noble in defending that prayer to God which is at once the shield and promoter of virtue.

Very respectfully yours,

JOEL PARKER.

XI. The Rev. Dr. MILNOR, of New-York, writes as follows in a note dated

New-York, Oct. 21, 1833.

I have read with great pleasure the letters of Sherlock to Thomas Herttell, Esq., member of the house of assembly from the city of New-York, on the subject of discontinuing the office of chaplains to the legislature, and have been much gratified with so ample a vindication both of the constitutionality and duty of conducting the public business with a daily invocation of the blessing of God upon the labors of our public functionaries. The popular style of these letters has led into some diffusiveness in the discussion, that may not so well please the fastidious; but they are better calculated, on that account, to insure, what is very desirable, their general perusal by all classes in the community.

JAMES MILNOR,

Rector of St. George's Church, New-York.

XII. The Right Rev. Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the state of New-York, who was not requested to read the letters in the first place with a view to recommending them, has politely furnished the following note:

I have had laid before me the letters of Sherlock on the subject of the employment of chaplains in the legislature of this state, and gave them as much attention as my engagements would at the time admit. From the observation thus made, and the judgment of others entitled to great respect, who have had better opportunities of reading them, I concur in approving of their republication, and in the opinion that they will prove highly useful to the best interests of the community. New-York, Oct. 22, 1833.

BENJ. T. ONDERDONK.

XIII. GORHAM A. WORTH, Esq., cashier of the New-York City Bank, has furnished the following note:

"I consider the letters of SHERLOCK, on the duty of continuing the ancient practice of opening the business of legislation with prayer, as eminently calculated to promote the cause of virtue and religion, without which no nation can be prosperous or happy. "They are written in a popular style, with much eloquence, as well as sound argument, and in a truly Christian spirit." New-York, Oct. 22, 1833. G. A. WORTH,

XIV. The Rev. Dr. BANGS, of New-York, general editor of the Methodist Book Concern, and especially of that able and useful work, entitled The Methodiot Magazine and Quarterly Review, approves of the letters of Sherlock, as follows:

I have read the letters of SHERLOCK, to Mr. Thomas Herttell, and heartily recommend them to the community in general, as an able defence of the long-established practice of employing chap lains in legislative assemblies. While the author pleads for Christianity with all the ardor of a sincere believer and an able advocate, he treats his antagonist with that respect which is due from one man to another, and thus evinces the goodness of his cause by the fairness as well as conclusiveness of his arguments: and while the venerable institutions of Christianity are assailed in our halls of legislation by semi-infidels, and nominal mistaken Christians, it is some consolation to know that there are Christian laymen sufficiently zealous in the cause of truth and righteousness to come forward in their vindication. SHERLOCK will therefore receive the gratitude of his country, and of posterity, for this timely and able defence of a practice sanctioned by all antiquity, as well as by the venerable founders of our republican instituN. BANGS.

tions.

New-York, Oct. 24, 1833.

XV. Copy of a Letter from SAMUEL A. FOOT, Esq. to the Author. New-York, Oct. 28, 1833.

DEAR SIR,-I have had time only to look cursorily over the letters, addressed by you to Mr. Herttell, which you sent me the other day, and of which you did me the honor to request my opinion. So far as my hasty and imperfect perusal enables me to. judge, I hesitate not to say, that they do your head and heart great credit. They appear to be worthy of an attentive perusal, and are well calculated to arrest public attention, and direct it to the important subject of which they treat.

The extraordinary effort made last winter to dispense with daily prayer, at the opening of our Legislative Proceedings, astonished and afflicted many of the wisest and purest men in our state and the union; and I am happy to see you, who are so able to vindicate any cause you espouse, earnestly engaged in endeavoring to restore the practice, under which our fathers were blessed and prospered. You have my sincere wishes for your success.

Very respectfully, your obed't, SAMUEL A. FOOT. N. B. Please consider me a subscriber for five copies.

XVI. From the Rev. WILLIAM PARKINSON, of New-York. Having read with pleasure the nine letters of SHERLOCK, addressed to Thomas Herttell, Esq. Member of the House of Assembly, from the city of New-York, for 1833, regarding his speech in relation to the appointment of Chaplains; I consider them as containing a reasonable and an appropriate antidote to the poison of Mr. Herttell's public attack on the Christian Religion-an attack evidently premeditated if not preconcerted; and, for which

the question regarding the chaplaincy only furnished the occasion and pretext.

To me, therefore, these letters appear highly important; and, as such, I cordially recommend them to all descriptions of readers; hoping that the historic research, the sound reasoning, and the political independence which they evince, together with the christian mildness and flowing eloquence which they constantly maintain, will secure to them an extensive patronage, and a candid perusal. WM. PARKINSON, Pastor of the First Baptist Church, N. Y.

New-York, Nov. 11, 1833.

XVII. From the Reverend Vicar-General of the Roman Catholic Church, of New-York.

The letters of Sherlock to Thomas Herttell, Esq., are written with point and spirit. They, as far as I am able to judge from a hasty and I may say imperfect perusal, reach the triumphant merits of his subject. The divine origin, and sublime influences of Christianity are set forth in a limpid style; and as far as the letters touch on these topics, they cannot fail to be productive of the most beneficial results. JNO. POWER, Vicar-General of New-York.

New-York, Nov. 13th, 1833.

XVIII. From Dr. BENJAMIN ALLEN, founder and principal of the Academy at Hyde-Park.

Hyde-Park, (Duchess Co.) Nov. 23, 1833. I have read with deep interest and pleasure, the letters of Sherlock, addressed to Thomas Herttell. They are written with great force and eloquence, and ought to be in the hands of every citizen of our country. While the cause which gave rise to them is deeply to be lamented, the friends of sound morality and religion, and our free institntions, have good reason to rejoice, that those have found in the author of the letters so able and eloquent a defender.

I am glad that those letters are to be presented to the public in a more permanent and convenient form; and hope that they may meet with that reception which they so justly deserve.

BENJAMIN ALLEN.

XIX. From Dr. DAVID HOSACK, formerly of New-York, now of

Hyde-Park.

New-York, Nov. 25th, 1833. DEAR SIR,-I have read with much pleasure and instruction, your letters, published under the signature of SHERLOCK.

Without entering into any details, relative to the arguments you have advanced upon the subject of Divine Revelation, the system of ethics, the sacred writings inculcate, and the duties which thence devolve upon man in his individual as well as in his collective capacity, your remarks receive my warmest approbation. They convey much useful information on the several subjects to which they relate; and in my opinion they are well

ealculated, with very few exceptions, to subserve the objects for which they were written.

Accept my thanks for your communication, and my best wishes for your successful prosecution of the useful labors in which you are engaged. I am, dear sir, yours, DAVID HOSACK.

XX. From the Hon. AMBROSE SPENCER.

Albany, Nov. 29, 1833.

I have read a few of Sherlock's Letters in defence of the Christian Religion, and have been very favorably impressed with the powerful and candid manner in which the great truths of Christianity are enforced and defended. I do not hesitate in giving my opinion, that the publication of those letters will be eminently useful to the present and rising generations.

A. SPENCER,

[Late Chief Justice of the State of New-York.]

XXI. From the Rev. B. T. WELCH, of Albany.

Albany, Nov. 29th, 1833.

Under the impression that the extensive circulation of the letters of Sherlock will have a tendency to promote the cause of religion and virtue, and to shield the young from the insidious influences of Infidelity, I cheerfully concur in the above expressed sentiments and recommendation. B. T. WELCH,

Pastor of the Baptist Church Albany.

XXII. From BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, Esq., Attorney General of the United States.

I have read several letters, published in the Washington County Post, under the signature of SHERLOCK, and addressed to Thomas Hertteli, Esq. And as the author has requested my opinion of their merits, I take pleasure in sayiug, that I think they contain a very interesting and powerful exposition of several important topics of Natural and Revealed Religion, with a general defence of Christianity, its doctrines and influence, which does equal honor to the heart and talents of the writer. I therefore highly approve of the proposal to collect and publish these letters in a volume with supplementary notes and illustrations. If the additional matter shall correspond in vigor of thought, extent of research, and eloquence of manner, with the original letters, the whole work will be one of much interest and value.

As it is imposible that all men should think precisely alike on points that admit a diversity of sentiment, it is not surprising that the letters of Sherlock should embrace, in the wide range taken by their author, some passages, to which many readers who ap prove their general design, should not entirely agree. This is, at all events, the case with myself; and to prevent misapprehension, I will therefore add, that I do not assent to all the arguments advanced on the constitutional point discussed by the writer. Nor do I approve of his allusions to political subjects, his strictures on the character of individual members of the Legislature, or his animadversions on the people of one of our most respectable coup

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