soul-first, enabling the believer to appropriate the grace of the Gospel; and then, by a constantly hallowing process, preparing him for the purity and the happiness of the heavenly state. The Compiler cherishes the hope that, by the Divine mercy, his little volume may prove a preservative from the serious errors which it has been his object conscientiously to oppose. In this light, rather than in that of a purely controversial character, does he regard his publication. And hence he has not felt required to suppress every devotional sentiment which occurred to him in his Editorial capacity. He has only to say, in conclusion, that he sends forth his humble production in a spirit of the utmost charity towards those who differ from him in religious sentiment and opinion. His object is, neither to irritate nor to offend; but to advance what he regards as essential truth. His simple aim is, to promote at once the Divine glory and human happiness by the dissemination of principles, upon the reception or rejection of which, he believes, is poised the salvation or the loss of man's immortal spirit. 1840. AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, 66 WHY ARE YOU NOT A SOCINIAN?" BY THE LATE REV. JOSEPH FREESTON, AUTHOR OF "DIRECTIONS AND ENCOURAGEMENTS TRAVELLERS TO ZION," AND OTHER THEOLOGICAL WORKS. FOR SOME ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR; AND TESTIMONIES IN FAVOUR OF HIS TREATISE FROM THE LATE ROBERT HALL AND OTHER THE Author of the Treatise now re-published was a much-valued Minister of the Baptist persuasion. He was born at Grimston, in Leicestershire, on the 12th of February, 1763. His parentage, though humble, was respectable and his education corresponded with the station in life to which he belonged. At a tender age, he was apprenticed to a useful calling; but was soon afterwards prevented, by Providential occurrences, from prosecuting it. He was the subject of early religious impressions: and, in his 16th year, he dates his conversion. In 1780 he began to preach: and was successively minister at Loughborough; at Wisbeach, in Cambridgeshire; and at Hinckley, in Leicestershire. At the last-named place he remained until the period of his death; which took place on the 30th of November, 1819, in the 57th year of his age. In common with very many persons who exercise self-observation, it was the practice of Mr. FREESTON to record, in a private journal, the principal passages of his life, and much of his religious experience. These Memoirs were begun in 1795; and were continued, with more or less regularity, up to the time of his decease. At the very outset of them, however, he disclaims, in the most distinct terms, any design of writing them with a view to their ultimate publication. He declares that his object was, by an occasional review of this record, to rekindle in his own breast "sensations and emotions once lively, but, by a continued succession of new incidents and events, considerably defaced;" and also to leave to his family some account of particulars in which they might feel personally or relatively interested. Notwithstanding this, however, the Memoirs-as the reader must have anticipated-have been published. The volume is edited by Mr. J. G. Pike, author of "Persuasives to Early Piety." Among the steady personal friends of our Author was the celebrated Robert Hall, of Leicester: who, indeed, preached Mr. Freeston's funeral sermon; and also wrote a Preface to his posthumous Memoirs. This piece is replete with the characteristic excellences of Mr. Hall's matchless style. The elegant writer gives the following character of Mr. Freeston— his mental qualities; his habitual application to reading; his theological knowledge; his devotional spirit; his aversion to Socinianism; his literary works; his inadequate remuneration as a minister of the Gospel "The following is not the history of a man bustling on the busy stage of life, and exposed to great vicissitudes of good or evil fortune. It is the simple, unpretending narrative of a dissenting Minister, who |