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1114

COMPRISING

A GLANCE

AT

J. WILKINSON'S

"QUAKERISM EXAMINED."

BY AMICUS.

"Professing to be wise, they "-" changed the glory of the uncorruptible God, into
the image of corruptible man."-ROM. i. 22, 23.

"To guard the sincere enquirer after Truth, against the influence of the names of
those worthy instruments, [the early Friends,] in giving currency to sentiments they
never held, is but an act of justice to their character, to the principles they held, and to
those who stand in need of such information."-
ELISHA BATES.

YORK:

PRINTED AND SOLD BY WILLIAM ALEXANDER,

SOLD ALSO BY

HARVEY AND DARTON, AND E. FRY AND SON, LONDON.

1839.

"Of self-perusal, Science rare,
Few know the mighty gain;
Learn'd prelates, self-unread, may read
Their BIBLES o'er in vain.

"Unlettered and untravelled men

An ORACLE might find,

Would they consult their owN CONTENTS,

The Delphos of the mind."

Young's Resignation.

"Paul declares that though the Mosaic Dispensation was glorious, that of Christ exceeds it in glory. But if Christ revealed Himself immediately to the Jews, and to Christians only mediately by the letter of a book, it is plain the Apostle was mistaken; for no one can deny it is far more glorious to see the Light of GOD's Countenance, and hear His voice, than merely to read something about them in a book."

"O Lord! If because we have this BLESSED picture of Thee, we must have no discovery of thy glorious Original, have compassion on us; take back thy PRECIOUS Book, and impart thy MORE precious SELF to us, as THOU DIDST TO THY ANCIENT PEOPLE."

Fletcher on the Spiritual Manifestation.

42.

PREFACE.

In offering the following pages to the public eye, the author distinctly states, that he only is accountable for what they contain; for though it is conceived the views expressed in them, are in perfect harmony with the doctrines maintained by "the early Friends," and most surely believed by their successors in religious fellowship and communion; yet the writer is solicitous to avoid committing the body in any respect, by the manner or the terms in which he has judged it eligible to express his sentiments; and by which he indulges a hope that, in some instances, the Doctrines of Friends may be exhibited, either with rather more perspicuity, or in a more concentrated point of view; than the style and times of "the early Friends," were adapted to setting forth their opinions.

The author further conceives, that the very circumstance of this work being anonymous, completely exonerates the Society from any responsibility respecting it.

-As one portion of the title, "A Glance," distinctly imports, brevity was an original as well as desirable object; and as regards the aim to which "A Glance" is directed, the appellation will probably be found appropriate, when it is considered that the work at which it glances, consists of five hundred duodecimo pages; and invests "Quakerism," as J. W. has been pleased to term it, with a MASK consisting of more than a fourth part of five hundred passages, which the author of this "Glance" most decidedly ranks as misinterpretations, consequent fallacious assumptions or deductions, or corresponding calumniations of the Doctrines not only held, but openly avowed, and fully set forth by "the early Friends."

The authors whose writings, almost exclusively, are quoted as agreeing with the sentiments advanced in this Glance, are G. Fox

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