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A

COMPENDIUM

OF THE

SYSTEM OF DIVINE TRUTH,

CONTAINED

IN A SERIES OF ESSAYS,

IN WHICH

THE PRINCIPAL SUBJECTS CONTAINED

IN THE

HOLY SCRIPTURES,

ARE CAREFULLY ARRANGED, BRIEFLY DISCUSSED;

AND IMPROVED.

TO WHICH IS ADDED,

- A SYSTEM OF QUESTIONS ADAPTED TO THE FOREGOING
SYSTEM, BY THE REV. HERMAN DAGGETT, PRINCIPAL OF
THE FOREIGN MISSION SCHOOL, IN CORNWALL.

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BY JACOB CATLIN, D. D.

PASTOR OF A CHURCH IN NEW-MARLBOROUGH, MASS.

1001

"What is truth?".... Pontius Pilate.

SECOND EDITION,

MIDDLETOWN:

PRINTED BY E. & H. CLARK.

L. S.

DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO WIT

District Clerk's Office.

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the ninth day of July, A. D. 1818, and in the forty-third year of the Independence of the United States of America, JACOB CATLIN, of the said District, has deposited in this Office, the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as author, in the words following, to wit:

"A Compendium of the System of Divine Truth: contained in a Series of Essays; in which the principal subjects contained in the Holy Scriptures, are carefully arranged, briefly discussed, and improved. By Jacob Catlin, A. M., Pastor of a Church in New-Marlborough, (Massachusetts.) What is truth? Pontius Pilate."

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 proprie tors 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 Massachusetts

INTRODUCTION.

10000

It is with no small degree of diffidence, that the author of this Compendium has undertaken, and prosecuted a work so important and so arduous; and for the correctness of which, especially in point of sentiment, he is so highly responsible, both to the christian public, and to Christ himself. Considering, however, the deplorable ignorance of Theology, and particularly of the systematic connection of the great truths contained in the scriptures, which is manifest in all ranks of people, even in this enlightened part of the world and considering how few there are, who have ability to purchase, and time and patience to read, the voluminous systems of Theology which are extant; it has been deemed important, that a Compendium of this kind, embracing all the leading articles of divine truth, and exhibiting the evidence in their support; together with suitable remarks and improvement; should be published for the particular benefit of the common people; and more especially for the benefit of those who emigrate from the old settlements of our country, and spend a number of years in the wilderness, in a great measure destitute of regular and systematic instruction in religion, before they are able to support the ministry of the gospel.

In stating the usefulness and importance of a summary of christian doctrine and practice, a venerable author makes the following remarks; that "There are many, in every age, and in all places, who are so destitute of a sense of the importance of religion, that they would never attend to the sacred scriptures, with that degree of engagedness, which is necessary, to collect from them any thing like a system of doctrines. But, by the aid of a compendium of the doc

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