A 6-2 v

1855

PREFACE.

THE works comprised in the Young Christian series are the following:

I. THE YOUNG CHRISTIAN; or, a Familiar Illustration of the Principles of Christian Duty.

II. THE CORNER STONE; or, a Familiar Illustration of the Principles of Christian Truth.

III. THE WAY TO DO GOOD; or, the Christian Character Mature.

IV. HOARYHEAD and M'DONNER; or the Radical Nature of the Change in Spiritual Regeneration.

THE YOUNG CHRISTIAN, the first volume of the series, is intended as a guide to the young inquirer in first entering upon his Christian course. Like the other volumes of the series, the work is intended, not for children, nor exclusively for the young, but for all who are first commencing a religious life, whatever their years may be. Since, however, it proves, in fact, that such beginners are seldom found among those who have passed beyond the early periods of life, the author has kept in mind the wants and the mental characteristics

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of youth, rather than those of maturity, in the form in which he has presented the truths brought to view, and in the narratives and dialogues with which he has attempted to illustrate them.

In respect to the theology of the work, it takes every where for granted that salvation for the human soul is to be obtained through repentance for past sin, and through faith and trust in the merits and atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Its main design, however, is to enforce the practice, and not to discuss the theory, of religion. Its object is simply to explain and illustrate Christian duty, exhibiting this duty, however, as based on those great fundamental principles of faith in which all evangelical Christians concur.

THE CORNER STONE, the second volume of the series, though intended to explain and illustrate certain great religious truths, is not a work of technical theology. Its aim is simply to present, in a plain and very practical manner, a view of some of the great fundamental truths of revealed religion, on which the superstructure of Christian character necessarily reposes. The char

acter and history of Jesus Christ, considered as the chief Corner Stone of the Christian faith, form the main subjects of the volume; and the principles of faith which are brought to view are presented to the reader, as they are seen in the Scriptures, centring in him.

THE WAY TO DO GOOD, the third volume of the series, is designed to present a practical view of a life of Christian usefulness, and to exhibit in a very plain and simple manner the way in which a sincere and honest follower of Jesus is to honor his sacred profession and advance his Master's cause, by his daily efforts to promote the welfare and happiness of those around him.

HOARYHEAD and M'DONNER, the fourth and last volume of the series, consists of two connected tales, designed to illustrate the very radical character of the change by which the Christian life is begun.

In the treatment of the various topics discussed in these volumes, the author has made it his aim to divest the subject of religion of its scholastic garb, and to present in all plainness and simplicity, and in a manner adapted to the intellectual wants of common readers, the great fundamental principles of truth and duty. It is now many years since the volumes of this series were first issued, and during that time they have been published, in whole or in part, very extensively throughout the Christian world. Besides the wide circulation which the series has enjoyed in this country, numerous editions, more or less complete, have been issued in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Holland, India, and at various missionary stations throughout

the globe. The extended approbation which the Christian community have thus bestowed upon the plan, and the increasing demand for copies of the several volumes, have led to the republication of the series at this time in a new and much improved form. The works have all been carefully revised by the author for this edition, and they are embellished with numerous illustrative engravings, which it is hoped may aid in making them attractive for every class of readers.

New York, February, 1855.