TRUTHS MAINTAINED. BY JAMES BIDEN, MONCKTON HOUSE, ANGLESEY, HANTS, AUTHOR OF "THE TRUE CHURCH." LONDON: AYLOTT AND CO., 8, PATERNOSTER ROW. 110.a.12. PREFACE. THIS book claims the distinction of unfolding some of the mysteries of Scripture. Many of God's truths have been shrouded in figurative language, that "seeing, men may not see, and hearing, they may not hear," until prepared by education, and sufficiently advanced in civilisation, to receive the truths with advantage. The time is come when "knowledge shall increase;" and God, therefore, has vouchsafed increased light upon His Word. The effect of this is to hasten forward a second and more complete Reformation: In this movement Protestant nations will take the lead, and by the aid of increased knowledge will diffuse a light into the darkest corners of the earth. The Eastern and Western ecclesiastical Churches will, by-and-by, give way under its influence, and Christendom present an aspect wholly different to the past. Justice and judgment will have supplanted absolutism and tyranny. England is already showing that she is prepared for the van. Her enlightened rulers listen to the voice of humanity. May it be her high destiny to continue to show to the worlds of men and of angels that she is guided by the lofty principles of Christianity, and thereby exhibit the spectacle of a happy and contented people, every grade, from royalty to industrial labour, doing and receiving good. The slight sketch for a reform, given in the last paper, will ultimately get the sanction of all parties. Its adoption will give strength to the civil power, it will remove the clergy out of a false position, and will not really injure them, as a body, either politically or socially, and it will satisfy present Dissenters by opening to them admission to the National Establishment. The book is commended to the calm consideration of all earnest-thinking men, by THE AUTHOR. |