The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation, by Hosea BallouCopyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the copyright laws for your country beforedownloading or redistributing this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook.This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do notchange or edit the header without written permission.Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom ofthis file. Included is important information about your specific rights and restrictions in how the file may be used. Youcan also find out about how to make a donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved.**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts****eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971*******These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****Title: A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine RevelationAuthor: Hosea BallouRelease Date: June, 2005 [EBook #8225] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was firstposted on July 3, 2003]Edition: 10Language: English*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SERIES OF LETTERS IN ***Produced by David Starner, David King and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team from a book given forscanning by Rev. Felicia Urbanski.A SERIES OF LETTERS, IN DEFENCE OF DIVINE REVELATION; IN REPLY TO ...
The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation, by Hosea Ballou
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**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971**
*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****
Title: A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation
Author: Hosea Ballou
Release Date: June, 2005 [EBook #8225] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first
posted on July 3, 2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SERIES OF LETTERS IN ***
Produced by David Starner, David King and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team from a book given for
scanning by Rev. Felicia Urbanski.
A SERIES OF LETTERS, IN DEFENCE OF DIVINE REVELATION; IN REPLY TO REV. ABNER
KNEELAND'S SERIOUS INQUIRY INTO THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE SAME.
* * * * *
BY HOSEA BALLOU,
Pastor of the Second Universalist Society in Boston.
* * * * *
TO WHICH IS ADDED, A RELIGIOUS CORRESPONDENCE, BETWEEN THE REV. HOSEA BALLOU, AND THE REV. DR. JOSEPH BUCKMINSTER AND
REV. JOSEPH WALTON, PASTORS OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES IN PORTSMOUTH, N. H.
District of Massachusetts, to wit: District Clerk's Office.
Be it remembered, that on the twenty-fifth day of July, A. D. 1820, in the forty-fifth year of the Independence of the
United States of America, HENRY BOWEN, of the said district, has deposited in this office, the title of a book, the
right whereof he claims as Proprietor in the words following, to wit:
"A Series of Letters, in defence of Divine Revelation; in reply to
Rev. Abner Kneeland's Serious Inquiry into the authenticity of the
same. By HOSEA BALLOU, Pastor of the Second Universalist Society in
Boston. To which is added, a Religious Correspondence, between the
Rev. Hosea Ballou, and the Rev. Dr. Joseph Buckminster, and Rev.
Joseph Walton, Pastors of Congregational Churches in Portsmouth, N.
H."
In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by
securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times
therein mentioned:" and also to an Act entitled, "An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled, an Act for the
Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of
such Copies during the times therein mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the Arts of Designing,
Engraving, and Etching Historical, and other Prints."
JOHN W. DAVIS, Clerk of the District of MassachusettsTO THE READER.
Some few suggestions respecting the following Controversy are thought necessary in order to inform the reader how
it was first introduced, the motives which led to it, and those which induced to its being published to the world.
We learn from the Rev. Mr. KNEELAND, that having at different times been exercised in his mind with serious
doubts respecting the authenticity of the Scriptures, and the system of Divine Revelation, recorded in them, he was
induced to solicit a correspondence with the Rev. Mr. BALLOU on the subject. That, in order to render the
controversy the more interesting, by calling into action the energies of mind, and by directing the correspondence to
definite purposes, he assumed the character of a real opponent, determining to maintain the opposition, in all its
forms, until reduced, by necessity, to yield to successful arguments directed against it. It was with great reluctance
that the advocate for the christian religion, in this controversy, consented to undertake a work of this nature; not,
however, because he esteemed it unnecessary, or because he entertained any doubts with regard to the
defensibility of revelation, but, as he contends, on account of the want of abilities and means to do the subject justice.
His opponent, however, being a familiar acquaintance and friend, as well as a preacher in the same profession of
faith with himself, having led him to believe that a labour of this kind was called for by the most sacred obligations of
brother to brother, he was induced to render what assistance was in his power, without infringing too much on other
important duties in which he was almost constantly engaged.
When the controversy closed, Mr. KNEELAND felt such an entire satisfaction in his own mind, that the objections
which he had stated were fairly answered, and the validity of the Scriptures vindicated, that he was led to believe that
to publish the correspondence would be of service to the cause of Christ. He therefore obtained leave of his
correspondent, and carried the manuscripts to the westward, where he offered proposals for the work, and obtained
a number of subscribers; but being called to remove to Philadelphia, he was under the necessity of postponing the
publication for a season. The publisher having obtained some knowledge of this correspondence, and being
informed by the Rev. Mr. KNEELAND that the arguments which it contains were, in his opinion, calculated to
strengthen the believer, as well as confirm the doubting, he negotiated for the manuscripts and now presents the
work to the public, entertaining a hope that it may serve the interest of christianity, and promote a respect and
veneration for the sacred writings.
The letters which passed between Mr. BALLOU and two respectable clergymen in the town of Portsmouth, N. H.
were some years since published in Vermont; but several circumstances rendered it proper that this work should be
reprinted. Besides its being nearly or quite out of print, the first edition was on an inferior paper, the work badly
executed, and a number of errors were discovered.
To those who believe in the universality of divine goodness, the publisher feels confident the following work will be
received and read with no small satisfaction. And a hope is entertained that it may be the means of enlightening
some, who though they possess the spirit of universal love and benevolence, have not the felicity of believing in the
divine goodness to the extent of their own desires.
H. BOWEN.
A SERIES OF LETTERS, &c.
EXTRACTS No. 1.
[The first letter of the objector was designed merely as an Introduction, inviting Mr. B. to the investigation of the
important subject of moral truth, or more particularly the truth of divine revelation. The following are extracts.]
"The thought has long since occurred to me that