PREFACE. 137 RELIGIOUS knowledge is, confessedly, of all other sciences, the most important. Important individually to each member of society, and equally important to the well-being of society at large. Whatever, therefore, has a tendency to promote this knowledge, and to widen its diffusion, is certainly entitled to the patronage of the public, and to the notice and, I had almost said, the gratitude too, of individuals. Of this description, the Editor presumes to flatter himself, the compilation now presented to the community will be deemed to partake. In it, moreover, will be found abundant matter to gratify, if not to satiate, a laudable curiosity-in the investigation of the various principles, as well moral as religious, of our fellow mortals,—and in ascertaining, in many instances, the leading causes of those astonishing revolutions in church or state, that have contributed to diversify each epoch of profane or ecclesiastic history. It does not, indeed, possess the merit of originality; but the method, as far as the Editor has been enabled to discover, is novel to the English press, and calculated, in his judgment, to improve and interest the generality of M309442 WANDERINGS OF THE HUMAN INTELLECT; OR, A NEW DICTIONARY OF THE VARIOUS SECTS INTO WHICH THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, IN ANCIENT AND IN MODERN TIMES, HAS BEEN DIVIDED; WITH AN IMPARTIAL DISCUSSION OF THE MERITS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CLAIMS TO ORTHODOXY. TO WHICH IS PREFIXED, AN INTRODUCTORY ESSAY ON UNIVERSAL HISTORY, AS WELL CIVIL AS ECCLESIASTIC, FROM THE MUCH-ADMIRED HISTORICAL DISCOURSE OF THE LEARNED DR PLUQUET, In front of his valuable Dictionary of all Religions; from which, and BY THE REV. JOHN BELL. "Try the Spirits"-I John, iv. 1. "Prove all things: hold that which is good"-I Thess. v. 21. NEWCASTLE: PRINTED BY EDWARD WALKER, PILGRIM-STREET. SOLD BY MESSRS RIVINGTON, ST PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, BOOKER, NEW BONDSTREET, AND KEATING AND CO. DUKE-STREET, GROSVENOR-SQUARE, LONDON; BELCHER AND SON, AND WILKS, BIRMINGHAM ; TODD, YORK; BELL, AND CHARNLEY, NEWCASTLE; SHARROCK, PRESTON; AND SYERS, MANCHESTER. |