iv The writer can honestly declare, that having through much bodily infirmity, attained the sixtieth year of his age, and witnessed the issuing of one hundred thousand copies of his little book from the press, the vanity of authorship natural to early life is absorbed in the sweet heart-exhilarating consciousness of doing good to mankind. The longer he lives, the more he is convinced that the belief and practice of the religion of the Holy Scriptures, the last and best gift of heaven to man, is the sum of human felicity. With regard to the present edition, every article has been most carefully revised. The author has availed himself of the latest communications from some of the leading ministers or members of the sects. These were transmitted in reply to applications made on the subject. He has not, nor can he have, any interest in the misrepresentation of any body of Christians: -his sole object is truth and charity. PREFACE BY THE AMERICAN EDITOR. FROM the foregoing preface of the venerable author to the fifteenth London edition of his work, some idea may be formed of the degree of favour, with which it has been received by the British public. We may add, that in reference to its adaptation to the wants of the people of the United States at the present day, numerous essential additions and improvements have been made. The object of the work being to present an accurate and impartial account of the various sects, into which the Christian world is divided, we have been careful to submit every article, in which a sketch of an existing denomination of American origin is given, to the inspection and approval of some recognised expounder of its tenets. Among the works to which we have been largely indebted in the execution of our task of revision, are Brande's Encyclopædia; Hayward's Book of Religions; D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation; Encyclopædia Americana; Maurice's True Catholic Church; Parochial Sermons, by John Henry Newman; the Oxford Tracts; Pusey's Sermons; Puseyism no Popery, by Bishop Doane; The Churchman; &c. &c. The condition of religious parties at the present moment is deeply interesting. All sects seem to be examining their principles, and the spirit of theological investigation was never more active. Religion cannot possibly suffer by the canvassing of its truths; and enlightened views alone are likely to be of permanent duration. "It is more and more understood,” says a celebrated divine of our own day, “that religious truth is every man's property and right, that it is committed to no order or individual, to no priest, minister, student, or sage, to be given, or kept back at will; but that every man may, and should seek it for himself; that every man is to see with his own mind as well as with his own eyes; and that God's illuminating spirit is alike promised to • every honest and humble seeker after truth. This recognition of every man's right of judgment, appears in the teachings of all denominations of Christians. In all the tone of authority is giving place to that of reason and persuasion. Men of all ranks are more and more addressed, as those who must weigh and settle for themselves the grandest truths of religion. The same tendency to universality, is seen in the generous toleration which marks our times, in comparison with the past. Men, in general, cannot now endure to think that their own narrow church holds all the goodness on the earth. Religion is less and less regarded as a name, a form, a creed, a church, and more and more as the spirit of Christ which works under all forms and sects. True, much intolerance remains; its separating walls are not fallen; but with few exceptions, they no longer reach to the clouds. Many of them have crumbled away, till the men whom they sever can shake hands, and exchange words of fellowship, and recognize in one another's faces the features of brethren." NEW-YORK, Dec. 1843. CONTENTS. DIFFERENT MODES OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT-THE EPISCOPALIAN, PRESBYTERIAN, AND CONGREGATIONAL OR INDEPENDENT SYS- PRESBYTERIANISM-ITS ORIGIN AND PREVALENCE-THE KIRK OF SCOTLAND-AMERICAN PRESBYTERIANS-DIVISION INTO OLD AND BAPTISM--PÆDOBAPTISTS--ANABAPTISTS-BAPTISTS--SABBATA- RIANS, OR SEVENTH DAY BAPTISTS-MENNONITES-DUNKERS- HUTCHINSONIANS--MILLENARIANS-MILLERITES--FOLLOWERS OF |