At the meeting of the Board, in October last, the time notified for examination of manuscripts, four Essays, by as many different writers, had been forwarded, and were presented for their consideration. After their careful reading, and much deliberation, the Board came to a conclusion to make proposals to the several writers of the manuscripts for the publication of them altogether in a volume, instead of awarding a premium to any particular one to be published to the exclusion of the others. This determination and proposal was made on the principle and condition, that the writers, respectively, and not the Board of Trustees, should be responsible for their productions. While the board were not willing, under all circumstances, to assume responsibility for any one of the Essays in all its points-they were unwilling that any one of them should be withheld from publication. Deeply interested as they themselves were in the perusal of the several articles, contemplating them separately and collectively, they were confident that a volume embodying, on one subject, such an amount of important discussion, such variety of argument, such diversity of style, and such general agreement in sentiment between the several writers located remotely from each other and having had no correspondence with one another in reference to this subject-could not fail of proving highly gratifying and useful to all that portion of the Christian public who interest themselves in this subject. They regard it very desirable that the whole should be thrown before the members of our own denomination especially; several of the specific topics which are discussed in the Essays, and those of great importance, appear never to have been brought forward for the consideration of our people. The writers, having accepted the proposed terms for the publication of their Essays, the Trustees have much pleasure in presenting them together in this volume, con. fident that the cause of Truth will be hereby advanced. TRUSTEES. Dover, N. H. Jan. 1, 1841. |